Livestock transport standards and guidelines are being written for Australia and are expected to be released for public comment by early next year.

Standards and guidelines are being written for livestock transport in Australia, which until now has been covered by limited legislation.

Responsibilities of people during the transport process, including competency of stock handlers, and selection of stock for transport, are major issues the standards will cover.

So are journey times (expressed as time offwater), stock handling, inspections during transport and humane destruction of stock.

The value of livestock transported around the nation is estimated to be about $12 billion per year. Transport is a key logistic that involves all aspects of the meat and livestock industries.

The new standards and guidelines are part of a project under the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and are intended to replace the various existing Land Transport Model Codes of Practice, some of which date back to 1983.

They will also fill existing gaps by including standards for species not covered by existing codes. The standards are requirements that must be met for animal welfare purposes.

After endorsement by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC), they will be adopted into legislation by the States and will become mandatory.

The accompanying guidelines are advisory only and are recommended practices to achieve desirable animal welfare outcomes.

The guidelines will not be mandatory.

They are being written by a reference group which includes representatives from all the livestock industries covered, livestock transporters, agents and saleyards operators, scientists, government and animal welfare groups.

The group has met five times in the past year to develop a document that will be released for public comment before early 2008.

The consultation period will be advertised in national media. Then submissions will be considered and the final document presented to PIMC.

"The public consultation period will offer all farmers the opportunity to read the standards and guidelines and make whatever comments they think are appropriate," NSW Department of Primary Industries animal welfare veterinary officer, Amanda Paul said.

"The document will be available through the internet or in hard copy and both electronic and written comments will be accepted."

Once the standards are endorsed, they will become law and non-compliance with a standard will become an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.