DAFF - EAN 2025/10 - AAV Audit Update

Attention

Accredited Veterinarians (AAVs) 

Purpose

To inform Australian Accredited Veterinarians (AAVs) and industry stakeholders that the department is continuing the AAV auditing program on an ongoing basis. 

Key points

• Further to EAN – 2023-9, the department has now successfully completed an initial auditing program of AAVs.
• Auditing of AAVs will now transition to ongoing and business as usual arrangements, with a sub-set of AAVs scheduled for audit every year. 
• The audits will provide an additional level of assurance to the public and live animal export stakeholders, further strengthening the integrity of the trade, in line with our compliance statement and regulatory framework.
• AAVs have an essential role in ensuring the health and welfare of livestock during the export process and the department has sought to minimise cost impacts as much as practicable.

Next Steps

Under the new schedule, 24 AAVs will be audited annually, with 12 selected in each six-month period beginning July 2025. Not all AAVs will be audited each year, the department will take a risk-based approach, selecting AAVs who:

• undertake a large number of consignments as an AAV
• complete approved export programs for markets with complex importing country requirements.

Along with checking compliance with the department's regulatory framework and relevant exporters' approved export programs, audits will improve the overall assurance of livestock exports and complement other regulatory activities outlined in the Compliance Statement for the Export of Livestock.

The department will make contact with you if you are selected for auditing.

Background

Establishing the AAV auditing program was part of a larger body of work, including those undertaken by the Inspector General of Live Animal Exports (IGLAE) in 2020 and 2021 (superseded by the Inspector General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports (IGAWLAE). 

The department has previously issued EAN 2023-27  to advise AAVs and stakeholders of record keeping requirements for AAVs. AAVs are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the requirements in meeting the livestock export regulations and an exporter's Approved Export Program. The department has several resources available for AAVs on the department's Accredited veterinarians (AAVs) - DAFF website.  

The department recovers the cost of delivering export regulatory services, including audits. AAVs who are audited will be charged directly for the cost of undertaking that audit. 

Fees for live animal export activities are published on the department's website and updated annually.

For further information please refer to the below web links, or contact livexp. ? 

• Approved arrangement guidelines for the export of livestock
• Approved export program guidelines for the export of livestock  
• Roles and responsibilities of accredited veterinarians? 

Jacqueline Pate 
Director - EL2
Live Animal Export Branch, Plant and Live Animal Exports, Welfare & Regulation Division 
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry