Biosecurity is everyone's responsibility. Whether you are smallholder or hobby farmer, large scale commercial producer, or new to the business of small or large scale farming – planning for and implementing effective biosecurity practices on your property is vital. A weed, pest or disease incursion on your property could irreparably damage your business - but could also quickly spread to adjoining properties. For the sake of your business, your neighbours' businesses and indeed the State's economy, way of life and our environment – please take your biosecurity responsibilities seriously.
The following web pages and documents provide some basic information to help you understand these responsibilities in weed management, plant diseases, animal management, movement and sale of animals and governance of food safety regarding animal products .
It is important for new smallholder or hobby farmers to understand biosecurity issues, as this can affect not just themselves but everyone else in the community. All landholders - small, new and commercial - need to take their biosecurity and animal welfare responsibilities seriously. The following web pages and documents provide some basic information to help you understand these responsibilities in weed management, plant diseases, animal management, movement and sale of animals and governance of food safety regarding animal products.
General biosecurity information
An introductory guide to Tasmania's biosecurity system:
A Beginner's Guide to Tasmania's Biosecurity System (437Kb)
Factsheets have been provided below to help you develop a plan for your property and visitors to your property
Property Owners' Guide to Biosecurity Factsheet (344Kb)
Biosecurity Practices for Property Visitors Factsheet (338Kb)
GMO Moratorium
The import, use and development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Tasmania, along with any other dealings, are regulated by numerous laws at both the Commonwealth and State levels. The
Tasmanian Genetically Modified Organisms Control Act 2004 (the Act) provides the basis for the moratorium and regulates dealings with GMOs for ‘marketing purposes’.
Under the Act the Tasmanian Government will maintain a moratorium on the commercial release of GMOs into the Tasmanian environment for five years until November 2019. A review will be undertaken before then to inform the decision on whether to renew the moratorium.
The Tasmanian Gene Technology Policy webpage provides more information on the Policy and the Act.
Registration of animals (National Livestock Identification Scheme)
You may be required to register your property (Property Identification Code) and animals as part of the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS). The
Livestock Identification webpage provides you with the links for registration for PIC and NLIS.
NLIS For Hobby Farmers is a fact sheet tailored to hobby or new landholders to help you understand your responsibilities.
Hobby Farmers and the NLIS (304Kb)
Animal management and animal husbandry factsheets
A number of resource sheets are available to help you with your animal management
Alpacas
Basic health and welfare tips for alpacas
Alpacas
(204Kb)
Cattle
Basic health and welfare tips for cattle
Feeding guidelines for cattle
Hobby Farmers - Basic Nutrition for Cattle
(390Kb)
Cattle and body scoring
Cattle Body Conditioning Scoring
(96Kb)
Sheep
Basic health, disease and welfare tips for sheep
Sheep - Guide for Hobby Farmers and Smallholders
(481Kb)
Diseases in sheep - Sheep Connect
Basic feeding guidelines for sheep
Basic Nutrition for Sheep
(47Kb)
Sheep welfare and body scoring
Animal Welfare Guidelines - Sheep
(162Kb)
Sheep - Body Condition Scoring
(224Kb)
Find factsheets and links below to help you with lice, worm and parasite management in sheep
Livestock Alert
(131Kb)
Hobby Farmers, Worms and Sheep
(305Kb)
Worm Testing (125Kb)
Buying Drenches (686Kb)
Information of how to care for sheep in extreme weather is provided in the link below
Caring for sheep in extreme weather
Chickens (including eggs) and other poultry
Basic health and welfare tips for chickens
Backyard Poultry
(570Kb)
Producing safe eggs at home
Information Sheet - Producing Safe Eggs at Home
(108Kb)
Small Producer guidelines
Information Sheet - Egg Food Safety Scheme (Small Commercial and Home Egg Producers)
(328Kb)
Goats
Basic health and welfare tips for Goats
Animal Welfare Guidelines - Goat
(362Kb)
Goats and the Smallholder
(132Kb)
Goats and Johne's Disease (362Kb)
Goats and worms
Goats and Worms
(554Kb)
Buying Drench
(686Kb)
Worm testing (125Kb)
Horses
Basic health and welfare tips for Horses
Everyday Biosecurity for Horse Owners
(460Kb)
Horses and the Smallholder
(103Kb)
Horse feeding requirements
Basic Nutrition for Horses (54Kb)
Body Scoring (104Kb)
Horses and worms
Worm test-What is it?
Equine Wormtest Advice Form
(37Kb)
Pigs
Basic health and welfare tips for Pigs (194Kb)
The Backyard Pig
(482Kb)
Companion Handbook to the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs
(650Kb)
Pigs and the Smallholder
(194Kb)
Animals and emergency planning
General advice can be found on
animals and emergency planning webpage and additional factsheets below.
RSPCA Emergency Stress Management for Domestic Pets
(460Kb)
FAQ Accessing Fodder in Emergency Situations
(94Kb)
Equine Emergency Planning Fact Sheet 1 Planning - The key to survival for you and your horses
(587Kb)
Equine Emergency Planning Fact Sheet 2 Preparation - The key to survival for you and your horses
(297Kb)
Equine Emergency Planning Fact Sheet 5 My Equine Emergency Plan and Horses Vital Signs
(397Kb)
Food safety and product integrity
Ensuring food produced in Tasmania's primary production and processing sectors is safe to eat is an important step in ensuring the wellbeing of consumers. It is also important to the protection of Tasmania's reputation as a producer of safe and clean food to allow ongoing market access and premium prices for Tasmania products. The Food Safety webpage provides extensive information on what is expected in food production and outlines the legislative controls existing for specific commodities.
Plant biosecurity
For more information on biosecurity for plants and plant materials a list of resources are listed below.
Plant Biosecurity Manual
Importing Plants
Plant Pest and Diseases
Plant Health Laboratories and services
Weeds
Weeds have a significant impact on the Tasmanian environment and economy. Find out how to identify and manage declared and environmental weeds.
The Weeds pages on the DPIPWE website contain a comprehensive suite of information covering declared and non-declared weeds, control guides, statutory management plans, together with additional links and resources.