How a national livestock standstill works
A national livestock standstill is a total ban on the movement of livestock across Australia when there is a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
It restricts the spread of the disease, allowing time to conduct tracing and surveillance activities.
Everyone in the livestock supply chain needs to understand how it works and follow the standstill requirements. This includes:
- livestock owners
- managers
- transporters
- livestock agents
- those who work in abattoirs, saleyards and feedlots.
A national livestock standstill is declared by government, initially for a period of 3 days. This may be extended if necessary.
Cloven-hooved animals are impacted
Animals that can be infected with FMD will be impacted by a national livestock standstill. These include:
- pigs
- cattle
- sheep
- goats
- deer
- camelids (alpaca, llama, camels)
- bison
- buffalo
- some zoo animals.
These susceptible animals are prohibited from starting a journey during the livestock standstill.
Animals in transit
Susceptible animals that have already started their journey when a standstill is called must be moved within 4 hours to one of the following locations:
- the place from where they were loaded or picked up
- the intended destination of the susceptible animal, provided it is:
- a farm
- a feedlot
- an abattoir where already consigned, or where there is a prior agreement that the susceptible animals will be accepted and slaughtered within 24 hours of their arrival
- a site as directed by an authorised officer.
Where the consignment includes livestock from different farms (not from a single property) they will either be:
- directed by the Chief Inspector of Stock
- delegated to slaughter
- delegated to an authorised holding point.
If the current trip cannot be completed within 4 hours, transporters need to call PIRSA for instruction.
Livestock welfare and driver fatigue will remain the responsibility of the transporter. Transporters are not permitted to abandon livestock or leave livestock loaded on a vehicle – animals must be delivered and unloaded at an appropriate destination.
No new journeys can begin unless under a special permit. No livestock can be moved from saleyards or feedlots.
Milking dairy cows
Healthy dairy cows may cross a public road to access the milking area, if all 3 of these conditions are met:
- there is no alternative access such as an under-pass
- the cows are managed to minimise faecal contamination of the road (the mob is held for a period before crossing)
- the cows are walked directly across the road.
Managing saleyards and transporters
The AUSVETPLAN Saleyards and Transport Enterprise Manual assists saleyard managers and livestock transporters to:
- prepare for a possible EAD
- know how to respond if an outbreak occurs.
During a national livestock standstill, saleyard management will implement their action plan:
- sales in progress will be stopped
- attendees will be advised of their obligations
- no livestock will be allowed to move from the saleyard
- livestock will be fed, watered, and sheltered on site until the standstill is over.
All trucks must be emptied, washed down, and disinfected before leaving the saleyard.
All livestock at saleyards must be secured, meaning movements of vehicles and people will be restricted. Livestock may be moved within a saleyard but must not be removed, except under permit issued by the Chief Inspector of Stock.
Saleyard operators/managers retain the duty of care for the animals. Managers remain responsible for:
- operations within the saleyard facility
- the overall welfare of livestock.
Duration of the standstill
A national livestock standstill is initially in place for 72 hours, but the duration depends on the nature of the outbreak.
It can be extended if the outbreak is large and taking longer to trace all the animals.
When the standstill is revoked, other emergency orders may be declared within South Australia. This manages the risk of spreading FMD until the outbreak is confirmed to be eradicated.
Penalties for not abiding
People who do not comply with the standstill may contribute to the disease spreading, increasing the time and cost required to contain and eradicate it.
Under the South Australian Livestock Act 1997, penalties for breaching movement restrictions include fines and imprisonment.
Communicating a livestock standstill
Government and industry share the responsibility for communicating a standstill, using a variety of methods to reach all affected sectors.
In South Australia, the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, or their delegate, the Chief Inspector of Stock/Chief Veterinary Officer, issues a gazettal notice under the Livestock Act 1997. This prohibits any movement of animals susceptible to FMD.
People with a registered property identification code (PIC) will receive an SMS and email from PIRSA, advising what is happening and what to do.
Livestock transporters will be instructed through industry networks and radio.
Livestock owners are encouraged to:
- ensure they have registered a PIC and their details are up to date
- follow PIRSA on Facebook and Twitter
- check the PIRSA website.
Information and announcements for all emergency animal disease situations are published on the national Outbreak website.
