Summary of the New Requirements

• New ASD forms will be mandatory from 1 January 2006;
• A single standardised form. This means that the one form will be accepted by all meat processors;
• An ASD must continue to be sent for all animals sent for processing and for movements of cattle and deer as currently required. 
• In addition, the new ASD will be mandated for the movements of sheep, lambs, goats, alpacas, llamas, ostriches and emus sent from one property or saleyard to another property or saleyard or property where there is a different person in charge;
• The ASD is to be completed by the person in charge of the animals;
• Transport operators are not to prepare ASDs themselves. They are required to transfer ASDs when provided by the supplier with the animals being moved. See also When no form is provided section later;
• ASD forms that accompany cattle and deer must include an AHB or MINDA number. This includes those from lifestyle farmers; 
• If the withholding period for treatments is not known the default period should apply. This has changed as follows: the 60 day default period is to be extended to 63 days for horses, ostriches and emus, and 91 days (3 months) for farmed mammals (other than horses);
• Copies of the signed ASD must be kept. The requirement is: one year for the party who completed and signed the form; one year for the farmer or saleyard operator who received and then sold the animals; four years for meat processors (they must also keep faxed changes). Where a property is sold as a going concern (including the stock) the vendor must ensure that all stock have ASD records;
• When moving animals during the transition period, animals not born on that property that do not have an ASD provided or where the knowledge has not been passed on by the previous person in charge, the new person in charge must default to the worst case regarding MAF movement or surveillance controls. Over time, all stock not born on a property will have an ASD provided by their previous owner. 
• A separate ASD for pigs will be required for all movements

When No Form Is Provided

People in charge of stock must supply an ASD form when the stock leaves their property. The new person in charge must receive an ASD before or when they receive stock. If no form is received the animals must be held separately till a form is supplied or the animals must be returned to the supplier. For cattle and deer the National Pest Management Strategy requires that the ASD must physically accompany the movement of the animals.

A fax may be used to correct or complete an ASD, and this does not need to be followed up with the original. In this case, the original ASD received must be clearly marked as void.  

The practice of pre-signing of ASDs is not acceptable.

Transition Period

The current version of the ASD (dated 2002) is only able to be used until 31 December 2005. Parties will be required to change over from ASD 2002 to the new ASD from 1 October 2005 through to 31 December 2005.

Where Can I Find Out More?

For more information contact: your Livestock Representative.