Letter from ANPA to National and State chief veterinary officers regards implementing a protocol for pigeon movement and vaccination.
The Australian National Pigeon Association Incorporated (ANPA Inc) is the national organisation and advisory body for the Fancy pigeon fraternity within Australia . It currently has a national framework and represents 350 individual members and a further 1600 members through affiliations.

Many exhibitions of Fancy Pigeons are conducted annually in the winter months, by affiliated state and regional societies and by the Royal Societies
An ANPA National Show, rotated between states, annually has around 3500 pigeons shown, Melbourne National in 2007 saw 4500 birds shown.

Our special aim is to provide a hobby and an ‘outdoors’ interest for the youth of the community.

We have been in place for almost 30 years and have been instrumental in dealing with government agencies and authorities over the years, taking a leading role in
quarantine and bio-security matters including the initial negotiations with AQIS around the reintroduction of importation of pigeons into Australia in 1990.

Importantly , our hobby involves exhibiting pigeons Nationally and , as illustrated by exhibition numbers , our Fancy supports the Travel , Accommodation and
Catering industries .   While the Racing hobby might be able to function within state borders ,  our  interest requires ongoing movement of pigeons between states.

Restrictions on movements of pigeons , between states , will impact severely on our hobby and so impact on all aspects previously mentioned .

ANPA has a very good grasp on the current situation and certainly takes a national perspective on this and many subjects for the fancy fraternity.  Please consider also that our birds are aviary kept and are not ‘loft flown’ .

We will implement strategies to ensure ideals in bio-security are enforced within our exhibition protocol , along this regulation base:  

1/ All exhibits will be certified as having been vaccinated annually and within the specified time prior to exhibition .

2/ Exhibits will not make contact with feral , introduced or native species  , in transit or in exhibition .

3/ No bird other than those certified , as above , will be admitted to the exhibition pavilion .

4/ Exhibits will be certified to have been kept and exhibited under these regulations throughout the exhibition season .

5/ All bio-security protocol as specified by the DPIs will be strictly adhered to and enforced . 

We hereby request that the National Chief Veterinary Officer and State DPI CVOs  take a National approach to vaccination and movement protocols to allow our associations to continue nationally . Further we would appreciate advice and directions on National Bio- Security requirements to achieve this aim .

Yours Faithfully,
Bob GRANT (President ANPA Inc.)