Resources

The NTLEA is committed to ensuring that cattle exports are conducted in line with animal welfare at the forefront. In order to achieve that, the NTLEA provides customised advice to industry participants on best practices.

Australian Government Regulation

There are a number of important legislative and regulatory instruments that govern the export of cattle from Australia. These include:

• Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) 3.3
  • ASEL outlines the minimum health and wealfare conditions for exporting cattle from Australia.
    • The Australian Department of Agriculature, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is currently undertaking the ASEL 4.0 review. The second roudn of public consultation will commence in late-2025.
• Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
  • ESCAS is a regulatory requirement that must be met in order to export feeder or slaughter cattle from Australia. ESCAS does not apply to breeder cattle.
  • DAFF is currently undertaking a targeted review of ESCAS. The review is being conducted in three stages. More information on the review can be found here or by contacting the NTLEA.
    • More information on the ESCAS review is expected to be provided in late-2025.
• Export Control Act 2020 (Cth)
• Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 (Cth)
• Export Control (Fees and Payments) Rules 2021 (Cth) 

DAFF provides detailed information for livestock exporters on their website, including, among other things:

• Materials for those wishing to become an exporter;
• Obtaining an export license;
• Guidelines for approved arrangements;
• Information on livestock consingments;
• Criteria for the Approved Exporter Program (AAP);
• Details on the Tracking Animal Certification for Export (TRACE) program.

ALEC

There is also a wide variety of inforamtion available from the member-based, peak industry body representing Australia’s livestock export sector, Australian Livestock Exporters Council (ALEC)

LiveCorp

In addition, LIveCorp–the service provider and research body for the Australian livestock export industry–has produced a number of documents to help exporters and the general public understand better the live export industry, supply chain and ongoing committment to the highest standards in animal welfare.

Additonal Resources

Understanding the cattle livestock export journey

Live Export and how it supports Regional Communities

Live Export supporting Overseas Communities

Animal welfare outocmes for 2024-25 and supporting industry information

Fast facts:

• Cattle export volumes were up 16% and sheep volumes were down 37% compared to 2023*.

• The annual mortality rates for exports by sea and air in 2024 were 0.06% for cattle. More than 50% of cattle voyages had zero mortalities in 2024.

• There were 296 consignments of cattle by sea in 2024.

• The average length of livestock export voyages in 2024 was 8.2 days to South East Asia, 19.7 days to North Asia, and 21.3 days to the Middle East.

• Data collected daily on livestock export ships shows that cattle and sheep adjust quickly to the shipboard environment, showing neutral/positive demeanour after the first day of the voyage.

• More than half of cattle shipped from Australia left from the Northern Territory.

Read the entire report here: