Whether they are kept as pets or for commercial purposes, the following are considered livestock under WA legislation:
- ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, buffalo and any hybrids)
- equines (horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and any hybrids)
- camels
- camelids (alpaca, llama)
- pigs (including mini or miniature pigs)
- poultry (including pigeons, doves, emus and ostrich).
Importing livestock from interstate or overseas
To ensure pests and diseases not present or under a regulatory program in WA do not enter the state with imported animals, livestock must meet certain conditions and be certified as eligible for entry. This needs to be done by both the exporting producer/manager and an authorised government officer or veterinary surgeon before movement into WA.
Tests or treatments may be required to make livestock eligible for entry into WA. If so, these will need to be taken into consideration when planning movement dates.
On arrival in WA, livestock are inspected by a biosecurity officer at a designated inspection point to ensure they meet all published import conditions. Livestock that do not meet these conditions will not be eligible for entry.
The entry inspection, along with any treatments and tests, washdown and entry certification will attract a fee which is charged to the importer.
Import requirements and documentation
Species-specific LB1 livestock health certificates can be downloaded from the webpage:Forms for importing livestock into WA |
Import requirements for bringing stock into WA can be found on the following pages:
- Importing ruminants into Western Australia
- Importing equines into Western Australia
- Importing camels and South American camelids into Western Australia
- Importing poultry and other birds into Western Australia
- Importing pigs into Western Australia.
Documents required for bringing stock into WA can be found on the following pages:
- Documents for importing ruminants into Western Australia
- Documents for importing equines into Western Australia
- Documents for importing camels and South American camelids into Western Australia
- Documents for importing pigs into Western Australia.
Importing livestock from overseas
Livestock imported from overseas must meet WA requirements as well as those of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Stock identification and intrastate movement requirements
Stock entering WA are required to meet identification requirements and may be required to meet other intrastate movement conditions.
Post-border requirements
After entry into WA, livestock may be required to meet post-border inspection, treatment and testing requirements.
Inspection charges
Service fees and charges apply for livestock inspections.
Quarantine WA
Quarantine WA is responsible for checking all stock imported into WA to ensure they meet the published import conditions.
Quarantine WA actively protects WA's agriculture, environment and lifestyle by conducting inspections for quarantine risk material at entry points for private travellers and commercial clients importing from interstate or overseas.
Exemptions to import requirements
If stock do not meet the published import conditions, entry into WA may be allowed with an import permit. Import permits must be applied for and issued prior to stock movement. They cannot be issued at the border.
See import permit for an application form.
Contacts for livestock imports
For queries regarding import of livestock into WA, see Contacts for livestock imports.