- Published:
- Tuesday 18 June 2019
The Andrews Labor Government has launched a new mobile phone app, Notify Now, to make it easier to report animal diseases and strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity.
Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today launched the new app, which can be used by veterinarians, farmers and animal owners to report notifiable animal diseases and play their part in protecting Victoria’s valuable livestock.
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 invests $142.5 million to boost Victoria’s biosecurity system – the largest investment of its type in the history of our state, to keep our agricultural sector secure and prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
The Notify Now app uses geotagging to pinpoint the location of the animal carrying the disease, and allows users to upload photos of the affected animals, improving the quality of data sent to Victoria’s biosecurity teams.
Notifying authorities of the presence or suspicion of animal disease is an important element of biosecurity in Victoria, supporting the livestock industry and many thousands of Victorian agricultural jobs.
Early detection of exotic animal diseases is one of the most important ways those who work with animals can reduce their economic and social impacts on the community.
Animal disease notification is a legal requirement in Victoria under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994. ‘Notifiable diseases’ are defined by law and must be reported within the prescribed time when suspected by owners, vets, or laboratories.
Using the new Notify Now app is the most efficient way to meet this important obligation, and it can now be downloaded by searching for Notify Now in the iTunes store or Google Play store.
For more information, including the list of animal diseases that are notifiable in Victoria and their prescribed reporting time, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/ notifiable-diseases.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes
“Timely and accurate animal disease notification is a critical part of making sure animal disease outbreaks are managed effectively – so we can protect Victoria’s livestock and thousands of agriculture jobs.”
“Everyone has a role to play in keeping Victoria’s biosecurity strong and preventing the spread of disease, and Notify Now is the best way for vets, farmers and pet owners to raise the alarm and keep our animals safe.”
“This year’s Budget contains the biggest ever boost to biosecurity in Victoria – helping to keep our farms secure and free of disease. Notify Now will help us put extra biosecurity services where they’re needed most.”