Horse movement

Biosecurity laws for Queensland horses

The Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) commenced on 1 July 2016. Information and resources regarding the Act are available at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au

The Queensland Biosecurity Manual is available here.

As a licensee you are required to take an active role in managing biosecurity risks under your control. You are not expected to know about all biosecurity risks but you are expected to know about those associated with your day-to-day activities.

The general biosecurity obligation means you will need to ensure your activities do not spread a pest, disease or contaminant.

Registration requirements 

If you own or keep one or more horses you must be registered as a biosecurity entity with Biosecurity Queensland. You must register even if you don’t own the land that the horse is kept on. If you are already registered and have been allocated a PIC before 1 July 2016, you will be registered and your registration will be valid until 1 July 2019.

You can register as a biosecurity entity and be allocated a PIC by either:

Property Identification Code (PIC) 

When you register you will be allocated a property identification code (PIC). This PIC corresponds to the land where the horse is kept. PICs are not owned by the landowner as they are allocated to land.

Movement records

Under the Act every time a horse moves off a property a movement record must be created. The new legislation allows for a range of methods (including electronic records) to be used as a valid record as long as they capture the following details:

  • name of the person completing the record;
  • where the horses/s are being moved from;
  • where the horses/s are being moved to and the name and address of the person receiving the horse/s;
  • date of movement;
  • description of the horse.

If you receive a horse onto a property you must create a movement record or take a copy of the existing movement record that includes those details. You are receiving a horse if a horse is being delivered to your care. This includes where a horse stays at your property overnight or you are a vet.

If you are moving a horse and there is no receiver, only one movement record needs to be created. All movements of a horse from your property need to be recorded. Multiple movements can be recorded on one movement record. Movement records can be created in any format providing it captures the above specified information and includes:

  • diary or logbook entries;
  • notepad or exercise book;
  • email;
  • text message;
  • Excel spreadsheet;
  • movement record (this is template for all animals and some information may not be required);
  • horse health declaration.

Find out more about horse registration and movement records on the Biosecurity Act 2014 webpage.

Under the existing legislation there are certain requirements when moving horses within Queensland or into Queensland from other states or territories.

Travelling interstate and crossing the tick line

Licensees must ensure good biosecurity practices regardless of their location and tick status.        

If you are travelling interstate with horses, refer to the Agriculture or Primary Industries Department in that state. If you are moving a horse across the tick line you must have the movement record in your possession.

Under the new framework horses are considered to pose a low risk of spreading viable cattle tick and are referred to as ‘low risk carriers’. Permits will no longer be issued for horses crossing the tick line. Before you move horses from the infested zone to the free zone you must be tick free and have met your cattle tick risk minimisation requirements.

You must read and follow the procedures identified in 16b of the Queensland biosecurity manual for the intended movement. There are three options provided in the manual that you can use to meet the requirements. You need to record on the movement record the actions you have taken to meet the requirements.

  1. Owner manual inspection and manage your horse in a (tick free) stated way.
  2. Owner manual inspection and chemical treatment.
  3. Accredited certifier manual inspection and chemical treatment.

The steps you need to take to meet your requirements for moving horses are included in the Queensland biosecurity manual.

Generally, your horses must be free of ticks before the movement commences. All horse owners have an obligation to report the presence of cattle tick in the tick free zone.

Transportation of hay and feed

Hay from fire ant restricted areas is considered one of the highest risk items in the spread of fire ants because the ants are often attracted to hay bales for shelter and food.

Learn more about hay management in fire ant restricted areas.