It is important to note that many of the international standards such as the AustraliaNew Zealand Standard for Risk Management are generic, and specifically aim to provide guidance to
organisations when developing their own approaches to risk management. Logically, it is expected that these frameworks will be modified by industries to meet specific needs, to address specific risks
and to maximise adoption throughout any given organisation. In contrast, reports such as the ‘The first report on the harmonisation of risk assessment procedures from the European Commission’
reviewed previously have been developed specifically to ensure greater harmonisation amongst already-adapted risk management frameworks. Although this latter document has been developed to
address a specific need and may not be directly relevant to live export, it could assist the LESCO with the development of educational material and templates, and when conducting training courses on risk
management.
SUMMARY: The AustralianNew Zealand Standard for Risk Management is used as the basis of risk management in a diverse range of industries. This Standard has been
developed with the intention that it will be modified by individual industries to meet specific needs, to address specific risks, and to maximise adoption throughout any given
organisation.
SUMMARY: The recommendations from this review – namely, the adaptation of the AustralianNew Zealand Standard for Risk Management – is consistent with the general
approach is risk management within a diverse range of industries in Australia and elsewhere.
3.4 A new approach to risk management during live export
3.4.1 An appropriate risk management model
After considering each of the previous comments, it is clear that there is a need for a shift from a prescriptive standards approach. Logically, the risk management models which are accepted
internationally as appropriate approaches to risk management deserve detailed consideration.
With respect to each of the reviewed models, the broad approaches to risk management namely, the assessment, management and communication of risk are relevant to all industries, including the live
export trade. Further, each of the fundamental issues relating to risk assessment that is, risk identification, analysis and evaluation is also relevant. Logically, therefore, the methodology of the
AustralianNew Zealand Standard for Risk Management – with modification as required – is appropriate to this industry.
In contrast, there are sound reasons why the EC and OIE methodologies are not directly applicable in this context, as follows:
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Hazard identification that is, the identification of defined infectious or toxic agents is central to the ECOIE methodology. However, adverse health and welfare outcomes in live export
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are not the result of a defined number of specific hazards, but rather as a consequence of the interaction of a
complex web of risk factors at and between each stage of export. This is illustrated in
• Figure 7, which represents current knowledge of the web of risk factors leading to adverse health
and welfare outcomes during live sheep export. The web of risk factors relating to live cattle export is very similar.
• The ECOIE methodology is also based on a sound understanding of the contributory effect of individual risk factors on adverse events. Although we have a reasonable understanding
of the structure of these causal webs, our understanding of the magnitude of these risks within these causal webs remains very limited. To illustrate, although the causal web for
feedlot-related salmonellosis is now understood, there is currently no quantitative information about the effect of various risk factors such as the contributory effect of various
combinations of farm, transport and feedlot factors on the probability of disease occurrence. Similar comments are relevant to other adverse health and welfare outcomes
during live export. Consequently, efforts towards hazard estimation as required within the EC and OIE methodologies would be speculative at best.
For these reasons, it is recommended that the management of animal health and welfare risks during live export be based on the methodology of the AustralianNew Zealand Standard.
RECOMMENDATION 5: It is recommended that the management of animal health and welfare risks during live export be based on the methodology of the AustralianNew
Zealand Standards for Risk Management.
3.4.2 An outcome-based focus
