Public consultation is now closed.
As a Member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Australia conducts biannual consultation on the Organisation’s draft international standards for animal health and welfare.
How you had your say and what happens next
Your feedback is appreciated and helped to inform Australia’s official positions on the draft WOAH standards for the Terrestrial Code.
Part A annexes were all adopted at the 93rd WOAH General Session, held from 18-22 May 2026. WOAH will take Australia’s positions on Part B annexes into account during their standard development process for the Terrestrial Code.
The final positions submitted by Australia to WOAH will be posted on this website mid-July 2026. Feedback on comments received by WOAH will be released as part of WOAH’s Terrestrial Animal Health Specialist Commission’s September 2026 meeting report.
Draft standards that were circulated
Chapter title | Annex |
Part A chapters | |
Glossary – Part A | 5 |
Chapter 1.3. Diseases, infections and infestations listed by WOAH (select articles) | 6 |
Chapter 4.X. Biosecurity | 7 |
Chapter 5.4. Measures and procedures applicable to the exportation of commodities | 8 |
Chapter 5.5. Measures and procedures applicable to the transit of commodities | 9 |
Chapter 5.6. Measures and procedures applicable to the importation of commodities | 10 |
Chapter 5.7. Border inspection posts and quarantine centres | 11 |
Chapter 7.5. Animal welfare during slaughter (Article 7.5.30) | 12 |
Chapter 8.8. Infection with foot and mouth disease virus (select articles) | 13 |
Chapter 15.2. Infection with classical swine fever virus (select articles) | 14 |
Chapter 8.20. Infection with Francisella tularensis (Tularemia) | 15 |
Chapter 8.X. Infection with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus | 16 |
Chapter 10.X. Infection with avian metapneumovirus (Turkey rhinotracheitis and swollen head syndrome of chickens) | 17 |
Part B chapters | |
Work programme | 4 |
User’s Guide | 18 |
Glossary – Part B | 19 |
Chapter 1.1. Notification of diseases and provision of epidemiological information | 20 |
Chapter 1.6. Procedures for official recognition of animal health status, endorsement of an official control programme, and publication of a self-declaration of animal health status, by WOAH | 21 |
Chapter 3.X. Emergency management | 22 |
Chapter 4.4. Defining, establishing and maintaining subpopulations of animals | 23 |
Chapter 4.Y. Application of zoning | 24 |
Chapter 5.X. Introduction to recommendations for international veterinary certification and export and import procedures | 25 |
Chapter 7.2. Animal welfare during transport | 26 |
Chapter 7.6. Animal welfare at the time of killing for purposes other than slaughter | 27 |
Chapter 8.8. Infection with foot and mouth disease virus (select articles) | 28 |
Chapter 10.4. Infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (select articles) | 29 |
Chapter 10.9. Infection with Newcastle disease virus (select articles) | 30 |
Chapter 11.9. Infection with lumpy skin disease virus | 31 |
Chapter 12.11. Infection with I‑AB and I‑C variants of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis) | 32 |
Chapter 14.9. Infection with sheeppox virus (sheeppox) and goatpox virus (goatpox) | 33 |
Terminology: Use of the terms ‘notify’, ‘notifiable disease’, ‘report’ and ‘reportable disease’ | 34 |
Key documents
Consultation pack for the standards circulated following the Terrestrial Animal Health Specialist Commission February 2026 report [ZIP 12 MB]
Some resources on this website have been created by third parties including the World Organisation for Animal Health. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is aware that some persons may have difficulty accessing and/or reading the content. If you require assistance with accessibility, please contact WOAHAustralia@aff.gov.au.