Senator O'Brien asked the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 2 March 1999:

(1) Is the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) responsible for guarding against the introduction of exotic diseases with the importation of live horses.

(2) What period of quarantine is each imported horse subjected to on entry to Australia.

(3) How many thoroughbred and standardbred stallions entered Australia in the 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and so far in the 1998-99 financial years.

(4) (a) Which country did each stallion come from; and (b) How long did each stallion remain in Australia.

(5) Is AQIS responsible for guarding against the transfer of exotic diseases with the export of live horses.

(6) What process does AQIS follow in assessing the disease status of each exported horse prior to its shipment overseas.

(7) (a) How many thoroughbred and standardbred stallions were exported from Australia in the 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and so far in the 1998-99 financial years; and (b) What was the destination of each stallion.

Senator Alston (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes.

(2) Horses from New Zealand are not required to undergo post arrival quarantine (PAQ) because their health status is considered to be equivalent to that of Australian horses. Horses from countries other than New Zealand must undergo a minimum of 14 days PAQ. During this time, imported horses are monitored closely for any signs of disease or ill health. Any sign of illness could result in further health testing or an extension of quarantine for the whole consignment.

(3) AQIS retains copies of each horse import permit in its Regional Offices, but does not have a computerised database from which to electronically extract the specific information requested. The following table has been compiled from a manual search of the files for 1997-98 and 1998-99.

(4) (a) The above table summarises this information.

(b) With three exceptions, the stallions were imported for the breeding season. They arrived in Australia in July and were re-exported in late December of the same year.

In 1997-98 two of the imported stallions (one from UK and one from Japan) remained in Australia permanently whilst the third one was here for three weeks in late October/early November (Melbourne Cup runner).

(5) AQIS provides export documentation to verify that exported animals meet both the import-

ing country's requirements and our international trade obligations.

(6) The process used by AQIS involves testing for specific diseases of concern to the importing country and a physical examination of each exported horse to ensure that it is healthy and fit to travel.

(7) (a) Between 1200 and 1600 horses are exported from Australia each year. The following table listing the numbers of stallions exported, has been compiled from a manual search of the export files for 1997-98 and 1998-99.

(b) The above table summarises this information.