Share your comments on the World Organisation for Animal Health’s draft terrestrial animal health standards.
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.
Consultation on WOAH’s draft standards is now open to Australian stakeholders. Your feedback will ensure standards remain evidence-based and achieve their purpose without imposing an unjustified burden on Australian producers.
We are consulting with you on the latest WOAH standards available in our consultation pack [ZIP 12 MB] which includes:
Code Commission report and standards: includes draft standards and WOAH’s Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission’s standards report and responses to previous WOAH Member positions. Draft standards for consultation include:
Part A seeks comments on Annexes 5 to 17 which will be proposed for adoption at the 93rd General Session in May 2026.
Part B seeks major comments only on Annexes 4 and 18-34, relating only to:
chapter purpose, scope, and structure
any important scientific recommendations
any issues and consequences that may significantly impact adoption.
Past Australian positions: include all Australian positions submitted during previous rounds of consultation. Please consider previous positions as WOAH will not accept repeated positions unless supported by new scientific evidence or rationale.
Response rationale template: required template for providing comments on each draft standard. All comments must be accompanied by a rationale for WOAH's consideration.
Have your say
To have your say on revised WOAH standards:
Download the consultation pack
Review the draft standards and past Australia positions relevant to you
Complete the response rationale template for uploading via the link below.
Please submit your feedback by:
Part A: 5 pm (AEST) Friday 1 May 2026
Part B: 5 pm (AEST) Friday 5 June 2026
Draft standards
Part A chapters – For adoption at the WOAH General Session 2026
Annex 5 Glossary – Part A
Annex 6 Chapter 1.3. Diseases, infections and infestations listed by WOAH (select articles)
Annex 7 Chapter 4.X. Biosecurity
Annex 8 Chapter 5.4. Measures and procedures applicable to the exportation of commodities
Annex 9 Chapter 5.5. Measures and procedures applicable to the transit of commodities
Annex 10 Chapter 5.6. Measures and procedures applicable to the importation of commodities
Annex 11 Chapter 5.7. Border inspection posts and quarantine centres
Annex 12 Chapter 7.5. Animal welfare during slaughter (Article 7.5.3)
Annex 13 Chapter 8.8. Infection with foot and mouth disease virus (select articles)
Annex 14 Chapter 15.2. Infection with classical swine fever virus (select articles)
Annex 15 Chapter 8.20. Infection with Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
Annex 16 Chapter 8.X. Infection with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus
Annex 17 Chapter 10.X. Infection with avian metapneumovirus (Turkey rhinotracheitis and swollen head syndrome of chickens)
Part B chapters - Not for adoption at the General Session 2026
Not for adoption at the General Session 2026
Annex 4 Work programme
Annex 18 User’s Guide
Annex 19 Glossary – Part B
Annex 20 Chapter 1.1. Notification of diseases and provision of epidemiological information
Annex 21 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
Annex 22 Chapter 3.X. Emergency management
Annex 23 Chapter 4.4. Defining, establishing and maintaining subpopulations of animals*
Annex 24 Chapter 4.Y. Application of zoning
Annex 25 Chapter 5.X. Introduction to recommendations for international veterinary certification and export and import procedures
Annex 26 Chapter 7.2. Animal welfare during transport
Annex 27 Chapter 7.6. Animal welfare at the time of killing for purposes other than slaughter
Annex 28 Chapter 8.8. Infection with foot and mouth disease virus (select articles)
Annex 29 Chapter 10.4. Infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (select articles)
Annex 30 Chapter 10.9. Infection with Newcastle disease virus (select articles)
Annex 31 Chapter 11.9. Infection with lumpy skin disease virus
Annex 32 Chapter 12.11. Infection with I AB and I C variants of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis)
Annex 33 Chapter 14.9. Infection with sheeppox virus (sheeppox) and goatpox virus (goatpox)
Annex 34 Terminology: Use of the terms ‘notify’, ‘notifiable disease’, ‘report’ and ‘reportable disease’
Key documents
Consultation pack [ZIP 12 MB]
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