You will require this permit if you own a commercial poultry flock. You are required to vaccinate all commercial poultry against Newcastle Disease. Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects:
- domestic poultry
- cage and aviary birds
- wild birds.
Vaccination must be in accordance with nationally agreed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The SOP will change according to the type of poultry being vaccinated.
Poultry includes any of the following that were reared or kept in captivity:
- chickens
- turkeys
- guinea fowl
- ducks
- geese
- quails
- pigeons
- pheasants
- partridges
- emus
- ostriches.
A commercial poultry flock is any managed group of more than 1000 domestic chickens which include flocks of meat chickens, laying hens, and chickens used for breeding purposes.
Diseased poultry may enter Victoria under restricted circumstances, usually only direct for slaughter at an abattoir.