A recent review of the process to clear a horse into Australia from another country by Harness Racing Australia (HRA) brought about several changes which were designed to improve timeliness of notification which in turn improved the traceability of Standardbreds after they arrive.
The response and feedback from the industry has been excellent, including making use of the amnesty period provided for horses arriving prior to 1 July 2022. This feedback also highlighted some notification pressures due to transportation timelines beyond the first port of entry. As such, the HRA Executive have approved the following amendments for horses being cleared into Australia, effective 1 October 2022:
- Clearance Applications are required within 14 days of the horse’s physical arrival date in Australia (extended from 7 days).
- Increased fees remain, but only apply to applications that are submitted 14 days after physical arrival.
- Proof of arrival date in Australia is still required, however, a confirmation email from the shipping agent is sufficient.
Click here for a copy of the application form.
If you have questions, please get in touch by emailing us at hra@hra.com.au or phoning 03 9227 3000.