EI and thoroughbred coming to Vic from NSW

I believe this is very important......

Below is a story from today’s Herald Sun Newspaper I think is important to all horse owners in Victoria. Also find attached a link to a petition for those wishing to voice their feelings against these movements. http://www.petitiononline.com/EIFREE/petition.html

Jayne

EI horses heading into Victoria

Herald Sun
December 16, 2007 12:00am

The beginning of the end of the crippling billion-dollar horse flu
crisis will start this week.

The equine influenza virus, which threatened the Spring Carnival and
brought racing to a standstill in NSW and Queensland for almost four
months, is apparently under sufficient control for authorities to
ease restrictions on the movement of horses.

It is believed the floodgates will open for horses to travel freely
from state to state - with minimal quarantine protocols - as early
as tomorrow.

It is understood NSW already is on the move, although Victorians are
awaiting confirmation of the pending influx of EI-affected
gallopers.

Thirty gallopers and 33 yearlings are understood to have been moved
from the badly hit Hunter Valley to Sydney, in anticipation of the
Department of Primary Industry ratifying protocols to allow the
horses into Victoria.

Victoria's chief veterinary officer, Dr Hugh Millar, will meet
racing officials on Tuesday afternoon - by which time NSW horses
will be ready to immediately cross the Murray River.

The 30 gallopers are believed to belong to Bob Ingham's Woodlands
Stud/Crown Lodge. After three days of quarantine in Sydney and a
further three in Melbourne, at the William Inglis complex, they will
be stabled at Flemington by Friday in the boxes of Peter Snowden.

Those stables are alongside those of David Hayes, who was
pleased "free travel" will again be available.

It is understood the 33 yearlings are the first batch of hundreds
being organised from the rich Hunter Valley breeders for sale in
Victoria in March.

They will undergo the same quarantine protocols (three days in
Sydney and three in Melbourne) before being prepared for the
Victorian Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction.

All horses must have been affected previously by EI to be allowed to
cross the border.

EI locked down most of NSW and Queensland racing from the start of
August, costing more than $1 billion.

Racing Victoria Ltd chief executive Stephen Allanson said the DPI
was "on the verge" of approving horse movement between states.

"All I can speculate is that those in NSW have speculated the
protocols will be ratified and have started moving their horses into
the quarantine stations already," he said.

"As long as the DPI is satisfied that the health and safety of
Victorian horses is guaranteed, we will be pleased that the nation's
horses are free to travel again.

"It is the beginning of the end of the EI virus crisis, another
progressive step."

The suddenness of the return to free travel comes as a surprise to
many, particularly those concerned the introduction of EI-affected
horses into the untainted Victorian area could risk a virus
outbreak.

The National Management Group, which comprises the chief vets from
all states, is steering the EI crisis.

Thoroughbred Victoria Breeders president Mike Becker said news of
the impending movement of horses across the border was stunning.

"I am shocked to know that they are on the move," Becker said.

"There has been no official announcement. The wider racing community
of Victoria has no knowledge of this. Racing Victoria Ltd has made
no announcement. The Department of Primary Industry has made no
official comment.

"Yet it seems the decision has been made some time ago - how else
could horses from the purple zone (Hunter Valley) be on their way
here already?

"One minute we are patrolling borders and stopping any horse
movement, and the next NSW EI-infected horses are crossing the
border."