PIRSA Media Release - SA Focus on recovery from horse flu - 12th Nov
MEDIA RELEASE Monday 12 November, 2007
Primary Industries and Resources SA expects non-racing horse events to resume early in 2008.
However, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rob Rahaley says it will be contingent on the situation in New South Wales and Queensland continuing to improve, there being no equine influenza outbreaks in South Australia and other states/territories remaining free of the virus.
Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) will phase in the following changes over the next two months:
• The permit system for transporting vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses into South Australia from non-infected states will change to a Horse Health Statement.
• Riders/owners wanting to attend equestrian events will be required to obtain a Horse Health Statement.
• The permit system for events will continue, but with changes to help equestrian organisations resume activities.
Horse organisations and individuals will be required to play a lead role in self-managing their biosecurity and contingency planning and PIRSA will conduct audits of events to check compliance.
Currently, equestrian organisations are being asked to cancel or postpone events until 31 December 2007 to reduce the risk of an outbreak in SA.
"For as long as equine influenza remains in Australia, South Australian horses remain at risk," Dr Rahaley said. "However, it is likely that efforts to eradicate the virus will continue interstate well into 2008. I understand that if SA equestrian organisations can't hold any events, they may suffer cash low issues from declining memberships.
"PIRSA has worked with the horse industry to develop effective security measures that will facilitate a progressive resumption of horse activities by January 2008."
It would be a requirement that event organisers seek permits for their events with PIRSA at least a fortnight prior to it being held, in order to provide competitors with biosecurity and other information relating to on-site procedures at events.
Competitors would also need to have a current Horse Health Statement that will include the permit number of the event they plan to attend which can be checked on arrival at an event or in transit by PIRSA compliance officers and/or police officers. They will also need to agree to the on site biosecurity and understand the implications of a quarantine or a stock standstill being declared that prevents them leaving the facility.
Requirements for the movement of horses between South Australia and other non-affected jurisdictions (Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Northern Territory) will also be eased before the end of November.
Dr Rahaley said in the event of a horse flu outbreak in South Australia, it would be necessary to have systems in place to track horses and competitors. "We hope it never happens, but if there was an outbreak here, we would need to be able to trace people and animals quickly and the permit system for events and the Horse Health Statements will allow for that. This will assist us in limiting the spread of disease and minimising the impact on the industry, " he said.
The PIRSA web site – www.pir.gov.au/horseflu will be progressively updated as the new policies come into force.
For people wanting more information:
• PIRSA website – www.pir.sa.gov.au/horseflu
• PIRSA hotline – 1800 675 888
• Their equestrian clubs and associations
• Horse SA 0402 488 306
Supplied by PIRSA 12th November 2007.
Primary Industries and Resources SA expects non-racing horse events to resume early in 2008.
However, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rob Rahaley says it will be contingent on the situation in New South Wales and Queensland continuing to improve, there being no equine influenza outbreaks in South Australia and other states/territories remaining free of the virus.
Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) will phase in the following changes over the next two months:
• The permit system for transporting vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses into South Australia from non-infected states will change to a Horse Health Statement.
• Riders/owners wanting to attend equestrian events will be required to obtain a Horse Health Statement.
• The permit system for events will continue, but with changes to help equestrian organisations resume activities.
Horse organisations and individuals will be required to play a lead role in self-managing their biosecurity and contingency planning and PIRSA will conduct audits of events to check compliance.
Currently, equestrian organisations are being asked to cancel or postpone events until 31 December 2007 to reduce the risk of an outbreak in SA.
"For as long as equine influenza remains in Australia, South Australian horses remain at risk," Dr Rahaley said. "However, it is likely that efforts to eradicate the virus will continue interstate well into 2008. I understand that if SA equestrian organisations can't hold any events, they may suffer cash low issues from declining memberships.
"PIRSA has worked with the horse industry to develop effective security measures that will facilitate a progressive resumption of horse activities by January 2008."
It would be a requirement that event organisers seek permits for their events with PIRSA at least a fortnight prior to it being held, in order to provide competitors with biosecurity and other information relating to on-site procedures at events.
Competitors would also need to have a current Horse Health Statement that will include the permit number of the event they plan to attend which can be checked on arrival at an event or in transit by PIRSA compliance officers and/or police officers. They will also need to agree to the on site biosecurity and understand the implications of a quarantine or a stock standstill being declared that prevents them leaving the facility.
Requirements for the movement of horses between South Australia and other non-affected jurisdictions (Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Northern Territory) will also be eased before the end of November.
Dr Rahaley said in the event of a horse flu outbreak in South Australia, it would be necessary to have systems in place to track horses and competitors. "We hope it never happens, but if there was an outbreak here, we would need to be able to trace people and animals quickly and the permit system for events and the Horse Health Statements will allow for that. This will assist us in limiting the spread of disease and minimising the impact on the industry, " he said.
The PIRSA web site – www.pir.gov.au/horseflu will be progressively updated as the new policies come into force.
For people wanting more information:
• PIRSA website – www.pir.sa.gov.au/horseflu
• PIRSA hotline – 1800 675 888
• Their equestrian clubs and associations
• Horse SA 0402 488 306
Supplied by PIRSA 12th November 2007.
posted by Horse Deals Reader at
1:45 pm
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