Horse Property Identification Codes - FAQs

Properties upon which horses reside now must have Property Identification Codes, applied for by their owners and allocated by the Department of Primary Industries.

What is a Property Identification Code (PIC)?

PICs identify parcels of land and link those with owners and livestock present on that land. The Department of Primary Industries maintains a database of PICs and contact details of PIC applicants.

What are horse PICs used for?

The information is used to plan for and respond to emergency animal disease (EAD) events and assists with responses to emergencies such as bushfires.

Why do horse owners have to apply for a PIC?

Following the successful eradication of equine influenza in 2007, the horse industry and government realised the benefit of having a comprehensive knowledge of where horses were kept and contact details for their owners. It has been agreed between industry and government nationally that horses should be required to reside on properties that have PICs. This has received strong industry support. Subsequently the legislation in Victoria was changed to require horse property owners to have a PIC, effective from 1 July 2010.

What if I already have a PIC for the property that my horses are on?

The owners of thousands properties with PICs have indicated that they have horses. There is no need for properties that have an existing PIC to apply for another. If you are not sure, call the DPI Helpline on 1800 678 779 - if there is already a PIC, you can advise that horses are running on it. Alternatively, email nlis.victoria@dpi.vic.gov.au with your PIC details and new information to update the database.

How can I apply for a PIC?

A PIC is allocated free of charge. An application form can be downloaded from the internet (www.dpi.vic.gov.au/nlis - see under “paper application forms”), or mailed to you (ring 1800 678 779), or obtained from any DPI office.

You will need to supply on your application your name, address and other contact details, and also the council property number or rates assessment number of the property at which the horse is to be kept (found on the rates assessment notice from the local council).

You must indicate on the form both that the property is used for horses, by ticking under "Horses" in the "Livestock Type" box, and entering the number of horses on the property. In the case of properties where horses are kept occasionally (e.g. showgrounds or pony clubs), simply indicate on the form (by a tick) that horses are kept there from time to time, but enter "0" (zero) for the number at present.

Applicants will subsequently receive a credit-card style card which details their PIC through the mail, sent out each month.

What does an application cost?

There is no cost to apply for or receive a PIC.

If I agist my horses do I need to apply for a PIC for that property?

It is sufficient for the owner of the agistment property to apply and hold a PIC, although the owners of the agisted horses will need to satisfy themselves that one exists. It will soon be possible for PIC holders to view a list of Victorian PICs online, which will facilitate this process.

If I own a racecourse or training stables adjacent to a racecourse do I have to apply for a PIC?

Provided that each course and stable is covered by a PIC, which could involve a listing of all relevant council property numbers on one application, the obligation will be deemed to have been met. Alternatively, individual training stables and the course could have a separate PIC if desired.

Do I have to advise anyone of movements of my horse?

No – there is no requirement to record the movement of horses between PICs.

What if I have several blocks of land upon which I keep or have agisted horses?

A person may apply for one PIC to cover all of the blocks that they own and run horses on. There is no need to apply separately for each block, as long as they are in the same locality.

To provide DPI with the most up to date information about the location of horses in Victoria, and their numbers, horse property owners need to regularly supply DPI with updates about the number of horses on their property/s and any changes to the land to which the PIC applies.

How can I update DPI with details of changes to my PIC information, such as the numbers of horses I now run?

DPI can be contacted via the DPI helpline on 1800 678 779 or by emailing nlis.victoria@dpi.vic.gov.au

How will the information be used, and is it secure?

The information collected is held in a secure password protected database accessed by DPI staff. Its use is restricted by the Information Privacy Act 2000 and the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, under which certain specified people have access to its details. PIC applicants may access limited contact details of other PIC applicants. Information held is used disease planning, prevention and response and to assist responses to emergencies such as bushfires and floods.

What legislation underpins this PIC requirement?

A broad range of livestock is required to have a PIC under section 9B of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 and regulation 22 of the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2006. Penalties for non-compliance are up to 60 penalty units (1 penalty unit is $119.45 for 2010/11).

Where can I get further information?

Further information can be obtained from the DPI Helpline on 1800 678 779.

Newsletter contributions welcome

If you have any news from your stud competition please forward to

registrar@issaweb.com.au for inclusion.

ISSA SPONSORSHIP THE SALE DISTRICT SHOWJUMPING AND DESSAGE CLUB, DRESSAGE DAY SUNDAY THE 24TH FEBRUARY 2008.

FOR OUR SPONSORSHIP WE SUPPLIED RIBBONS AND THEN RUGS TO THE WINNERS FOR THE YOUNG HORSE CLASSES 4, 5, 6 YEAR OLD.

THE WINNER OF THE 4 YEAR OLD WAS BELCAM CANADA RIDDEN BY Corinne Winch

WINNER OF THE 5 YEAR OLD WAS RIVERWOOD PARIS RIDDEN BY Ian Balfour

WINNER OF THE 6 YEAR OLD WAS JAYBEE DON GRANDE RIDDEN BYCaroline Colby

Well done to all riders and horses that competed in these classes.

Congratulations to all ISSA horses and pony's that competed on this day, which was well organized and conducted very professionally.

PAGE 2

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