Moving animals from a Movement Control Area (MCA)

About Movement Control Areas (MCAs)

MCAs are legally defined areas where there is a greater-than-normal risk of TB infection from possums infected with TB. If your property is in an MCA, you must comply with restrictions on the movement of your stock.

Find out if a property is in an MCA

Check our disease control area map to see if a property is in an MCA. If it's in an area marked in orange, it's in an MCA.

This is important if you're:

• buying stock
• selling stock
• moving stock off or on to your property for grazing.

If your animals are within an MCA

Your cattle or deer must have a TB test before they move if they are over 3 months old and within an MCA. You must complete the movement within 60 days of the pre-movement test.

Exceptions to TB test requirements

In some cases you don't need to have a pre-movement TB test — for example, when stock is going direct to slaughter.

In other cases you need to apply to us for a permit to move, including:

• when moving animals back to your property after short-term grazing in an MCA
• in cases that involve risks to animal welfare
• in a civil disaster
• when there is a lack of TB testing facilities
• 3 weeks before and after a cow gives birth.

We only issue permits to move in exceptional circumstances and your animals may be tested for TB after they move. Call us on 0800 482 463 to find out if you can apply for a permit.

Before you move your animals

As the Person in Charge of Animals (PICA), you must declare that the animals are moving from an MCA when you complete your Animal Status Declaration (ASD).

Booking a pre-movement TB test

You need to give 14 days' notice to arrange a pre-movement TB test.

If you're moving cattle or deer, call us on 0800 482 463 or use our online form to book a test.

If you're moving animals from a herd infected with TB

Apart from animals going directly to slaughter, moving stock out of an infected herd is restricted and controlled by the managing veterinarian.