There are 3 categories of animals under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 (EAA): category A, B and C (category C is sub-divided into C1 and C2).

Category A animals

Category A are animals categorised under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) as native wildlife, which may be obtained under a native animal keeping licence. You will need to develop a management plan if you are proposing to deal with these animals for the purposes of exhibit.

Because there are fewer risks associated with many category A animal species, management plan requirements are not as stringent compared to other categories. Examples of category A species are the woma python (Aspidites ramsayi), carpet python (Morelia spilota) and the common bearded dragon (Pogona barbata).

Category B animals

Category B animals are all other native wildlife which cannot be obtained under a recreational wildlife licence under the NCA, such as the kangaroo, koala and crocodile species. The dingo (Canis lupus dingo) and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are the only non-indigenous category B species.

You will need to develop a management plan for each species if you are proposing to deal with these animals for the purposes of exhibiting to the public. All category B animals to be exhibited outside of the regular enclosure site must be identifiable by a third party. This can be achieved by microchipping or using another approved identification device recorded in the Exhibited Animals Regulation 2016 (the Regulation).

Category C animals

Non-indigenous species are classified as prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Mammals, reptiles and amphibians which are prohibited matter pose a high risk to Australia's natural environment, and additional risk mitigation measures must be met.

Category C1 animals

A number of prohibited matter species are categorised as C1 animal species. These are regulated under the Act and may be obtained for mobile exhibition for exhibiting to the public. Unlike category C2 species, there are no requirements for the licence holder to exhibit category C1 species at the premises where the licence is issued to (regular enclosure site). Instead, licence holders meet their exhibit requirements through mobile exhibition off the regular enclosure site.

Given that category C1 species will be constantly moved off the regular enclosure site for the purpose of exhibit, they pose a greater risk of escape and establishment compared to C2 species.

Category C1 species in the Regulation have been assessed to ensure they have a low risk of establishment in the event of escape. If an establishment did occur, the species would pose no more than a moderate risk of adverse impacts on the health, safety or wellbeing of a person, social amenity, the economy or the environment.

Category C2 animals

All prohibited matter animal species are categorised as C2 species, unless identified under another category. Species such as the green iguana (Iguana iguana), common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), tiger (Panthera tigris) and boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) are examples of non-indigenous species listed as category C2 species. These species must be held in a regular enclosure and exhibited to the public at the regular enclosure site.

Livestock

Animal species deemed as livestock and domestic animals do not require a licence for the purposes of exhibit, however, there may be other requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2014 that you must adhere to when keeping or moving animal species such as camels, alpacas, sheep and other livestock.

Read about requirements for the keeping and movement of livestock and other domestic animals or phone 13 25 23.

Also consider...

• Find additional requirements stipulated in policies and standard operating procedures.
• Contact us online, by phone or in person for more information.

When applying to exhibit or deal with animals in Queensland, you must develop a management plan that identifies the relevant risks and adverse effects associated with dealing with, or exhibiting, the animal. The Exhibited Animals Act 2015 outlines when a management plan is required.

To help you develop a management plan, we've developed the following template and a guideline:

• Management plan template (with guidelines) (DOCX, 70KB)
• Guideline for completing management plans.

You do not have to use the management template, but you have to ensure that you provide the information that will fulfil Section 37 of the Exhibited Animals Act 2015.

Proposed management plans need to be submitted when you submit an application to apply to become an exhibition licence or interstate exhibitors permit holder.

• Application for exhibition licence
• Application for interstate exhibitors permit

You will also need to submit a management plan to amend an existing licence or permit. Licence amendments may include applying for a special exhibition approval or adding an additional species to an exhibition licence or interstate exhibitors permit. Some examples of management plans are below, these examples do not prescribe how animals must be exhibited or dealt with, they are a guide to help you understand the type of information the Department requires to assess an application:

• Example category A management plan (Aspidites) (DOCX, 73KB)
• Example category A management plan (Elapides) (DOCX, 73KB)
• Example category B management plan (Barn owl) (DOCX, 73KB)
• Example category B management plan (Estuarine and freshwater crocodile) (DOCX, 74KB)
• Example category B management plan (European rabbit) (DOCX, 71KB)
• Example category B management plan (Koala) (DOCX, 73KB)
• Example category B management plan (Macropod species) (DOCX, 70KB)
• Example category C management plan (Meerkat) (DOCX, 48KB)
• Example category C2 management plan (Boa constrictor) (DOCX, 68KB)
• Example category C2 management plan (Callitrichidae family – Common and Pygmy) (DOCX, 69B).

Proposed activities to be recorded on the licence or permit

A management plan must detail relevant activities you propose to undertake with a species or an individual of a species. You must identify what activities you propose to conduct and include details of how you intend to exhibit and deal with the animals.

As well as exhibiting an animal in a regular enclosure at the regular enclosure site for education purposes, you may also propose to display the animal in a controlled area outside the regular enclosure or in a controlled area off the regular enclosure site. Information addressing the risks associated with each of these activities, including whether or not there will be public interaction and how you will mitigate the associated risks, must be included in your management plan.

If an activity is approved it will be recorded on the licence. The approval is based on the information contained in the management plan submitted with your application for the licence, which must detail associated risks and how the activity is to be carried out. To defer from the approved activities without a reasonable excuse and without an amendment to the original management plan may result in a licence holder breaching the conditions of the licence or permit.

Management plans for more than 1 species

A management plan may cover more than 1 species within a category, depending on the risks associated with each species and how similar they are.

Management plans for category A species

Some category A species (such as native turtles) may potentially be managed similarly with regards to animal welfare, biosecurity or health and safety. They may have similar requirements for housing, daily care, exhibit on and off the regular enclosure site and transportation enclosures.

For example, you may choose to address the relevant risks associated with enclosure size by identifying a number of different types of enclosures by size and structure which are allocated to various species and a maximum number of individual animals for each enclosure dependent on their carapace size.

Management plans for category B and C species

Category B and C species may have similar risks regarding animal welfare and how they are managed on a daily basis. However, these risks would be managed separately for different species in each category. Risks such as enclosures and their specifications, diet, handling and transportation enclosures are very different and therefore a separate management plan for species within these separate categories will be required.

Creating standard operating procedures

If you manage the risks of dealing with a number of species in the same way (e.g. with routine management systems which do not change), you may submit an overarching policy, such as a standard operating procedure (SOP), of how you propose to deal with that situation.

The SOP could potentially cover information for species in more than one management plan, provided the risks for all animals recorded in the SOP are managed in the same way. The creation of SOPs assists the authority holder, or a relevant person operating under the authority, to understand the steps they need to undertake to complete actions relevant to specific situations.

As well as detailing what to do in the event of an escape for a particular animal or species of animal, SOPs may also be created for routine management systems such as:

• enclosure cleaning
• animal diets and feeding
• feeding of dangerous snakes or dangerous mammals which are fed in a similar manner
• animal handling for species which are handled similarly.

The management plan would still need to refer to the information specific to animals or species of animal in the SOPs, however you will not need to detail the same information in each management plan.

To make an amendment to your exhibition licence or interstate exhibitors permit, you must submit an amendment application and relevant management plans detailing the amendment required.

An amendment to the licence is required when you:

• add a new species or group of species
• apply for a special exhibition approval to exhibit a category C2 animal off the regular enclosure site
• amend an existing approved management plan to include additional species with similar risks
• construct a new enclosure.

Amendments

Amendments may relate to:

• a proposed change to any relevant risks and relevant adverse effects associated with exhibiting and dealing with an animal
• the way you propose to prevent or minimise these relevant risks and relevant adverse effects
• proposed changes or amendments to each regular enclosure or an authorised enclosure for an individual animal of a category B or C species
• adding a type of enclosure for an approved category A species
• adding a category A, B or C species to an already approved licence holding similar species that have the same or similar risks and are managed in the same way
• amending a licence to change the arrangements to manage the reproduction of an animal
• amending an enclosure for an existing approved category of animal
• amending an authority to increase approved numbers that doesn't require a significant change to a management plan.

You may apply to exhibit and deal with an approved category C2 animal outside of the regular enclosure site by submitting an exhibition licence amendment for a special exhibition approval (SEA). You will need to include a management plan with your application.

The management plan should include:

• information about the proposed events
• details of the controlled areas
• transportation (including proposed security of transportation enclosures or other authorised enclosures)
• names of authorised persons
• public interaction (if relevant)
• exhibit enclosures for the animal during the exhibit
• potential disease spread
• efficiency of controlled area barriers for the animal
• any other associated risks and how you propose to prevent or minimise these risks.

For example, you may apply for approval to undertake an exhibit with a specific animal at an address or event, where the animal will be held in a temporary controlled area outside of the regular enclosure and off the regular enclosure site.

If approved, the activity will be recorded on your licence. You must ensure you follow all procedures and details set out in the management plan and any other details or conditions recorded on your licence.

An amendment to Queensland's Biosecurity Regulation 2016 came into effect on 26 April 2019. It gives biosecurity protection to holders of an authority under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015.

The amendment addresses the potential biosecurity risks of unauthorised entry to places where animals are kept. These risks include the spread of:

• disease from infected people to animals
• disease and pests carried on people (e.g. clothing, footwear) vehicles or equipment moving onto a property.

Protection under the regulation will only apply if you have a biosecurity management plan for your place. Anybody that enters your place must comply with your biosecurity management plan when they enter or leave, and while they are on your property. Not complying with your biosecurity management plan is an offence and penalties apply.

Identify your management area

This could be:

• an entire premises normally closed to the public
• particular areas that have restricted entry (e.g. animal enclosures or exhibit areas) on premises normally open to the public.

Ways to minimise biosecurity risk in your managed areas

This could include:

disinfecting, foot bathing and wearing protective clothing

• entry restrictions applying to your managed areas.

Accessible plans specific to biosecurity

• A biosecurity management plan must be kept as a separate document at your premises and made available for inspection if a person asks to view the plan during ordinary business hours
• It should only detail information relevant to the prevention and spread of biosecurity matter into a management area.

To create a new biosecurity management plan, use Farm Biosecurity's resources and templates. If you already have a plan in place, check or upgrade your plan to ensure it aligns to the regulation.

For more detailed information about biosecurity protection for animal exhibitors, download the fact sheet.

Biosecurity management plan signs

Make visitors aware of their biosecurity obligations before entering a management area, that there is a biosecurity management plan for the area and that it is an offence to not comply with the biosecurity management plan. Download an approved sign that includes all information required to align with the regulation.

A number of state and national laws apply to exhibiting animals in Queensland. For example category C animals are regulated under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and some aspects may apply to licensed exhibitors. Exhibitors are also subject to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 which details how animals should be cared for.

In Queensland, you must meet the minimum animal welfare requirements detailed in legislation and relevant standards and codes of practice when keeping and exhibiting animals. If there are no specific codes in Queensland, you may refer to New South Wales codes for exhibiting animals.

The Exhibited Animals Act 2015 (the Act) supports a risk-based approach to exhibiting and dealing with animals. You must provide management plans demonstrating how you will meet your exhibition and dealing obligations to animal welfare, biosecurity and safety. For example, by documenting equivalent or better welfare outcomes than in existing recognised standards or codes of practice.

Standards and guidelines

The Australian Animal Welfare standards and guidelines for exhibited animals have been endorsed by the Agricultural Ministers Forum (AGMIN) and are referred to when applying to exhibit and deal with animals in Queensland.

There is 1 general standard and 5 animal standards that address requirements for:

• macropods
• koalas
• ratites
• crocodiles
• wombats.

Consultation for the adoption of these standards as codes of practice ran from 30 October to 4 December 2023.

Fees

You must pay fees under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015:

• for inspection services
• when applying for
  • a licence
  • a special approval
  • a permit
  • an accreditation
  • a copy of information held in a public register.

You must also pay fees for renewals, restorations and transfers of, and amendments to, licences, permits and accreditations.

You must pay the relevant application fee during the application process, before submitting the application.

Fees are:

• recorded as 'fee units' under the Exhibited Animals Regulation 2016
• converted to dollar values in proportion to the consumer price index, so the fees are adjusted on 1 July each year
• shown in the fee schedule.

Application fees are non-refundable. This includes fees for applications that are withdrawn or refused.

For more information, see our current policy on application of fees.

Duty of care and general exhibition and dealing obligation

If you are in charge of an animal, you have a duty of care to the welfare of that animal regardless of the circumstances of why you have that animal, what you are using it for or how long it will be in your care. You are legally obliged under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to provide 'appropriate care' for your animal by providing for its needs in a reasonable way.

Learn more about duty of care for animals.

You also have a general exhibition and dealing obligation under the Act for any animal being exhibited, regardless of whether the animal is exempt from being listed on a licence or permit.

Laws and regulations for exhibiting animals

The Act requires you to hold an exhibition licence to exhibit, demonstrate or use protected, international or prohibited wildlife for film or television productions.

Animal welfare and biosecurity are regulated and enforced in Queensland to ensure animals are treated humanely, and the environment and agriculture are protected.

Animal welfare laws

The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 promotes the responsible care and use of animals. It places a legal duty of care on people in charge of animals to meet those animals' needs.

Biosecurity Queensland and RSPCA Australia work in partnership to regulate animal welfare in Queensland.

Learn more about animal welfare laws in Queensland.

Biosecurity, export and import laws

The Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014 governs control, movement and management of plants and animals declared as pests.

Australian quarantine, export and import laws are administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Also consider...

• Contact the Zoo and Aquarium Association – they provide members with education, accreditation and networking opportunities.
• Additional requirements stipulated in policies and standard operating procedures
• Contact us for more information.

Under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015, the chief executive must keep a register of exhibited animal authorities and people accredited under the Act. The publicly available parts of each register must be published online.

Authority register

The publicly available part of the authority register includes:

• name of the authority holder
• category of the authority
• term of the authority
• authority expiry date
• contact details of the authority holder, but not the address if the premise where an authorised enclosure is located is a residential address.

Accredited people register

The chief executive must also keep a register of accredited people. Accredited people may undertake private assessments of animals, enclosures or places at the request of the authority holder to assess compliance with the Act. The accredited persons register records:

• the person's name
• conditions imposed on the accreditation
• the term of the accreditation.

Apply for a copy of a public register

To request a copy of the publicly available parts of the public register for exhibited animal authorities, complete the Application for exhibited animal authority register.

If you need help completing an application form, contact us on 13 25 23.