Mr Roots said the statement has been developed by the industry to bring a "new level of assurance for producers involved with the trading of goats".

"There is always a risk involved when buying and selling goats and this statement will eliminate some of that risk for producers as it will be an important part of the transaction as it provides the health status of the goats they intend to trade," Mr Roots said.

"This statement will take effect from 1 February 2009 and introduces new measures for minimising the spread of disease from farm to farm or even state to state."

The National Goat Health Statement is a nationally agreed declaration that recognises the importance of on-farm biosecurity plans in managing costly animal health diseases.

The statement will require producers to provide information for a number of significant diseases that impact on farm production.

These diseases include footrot, Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), lice, resistant worms and Johne’s disease.

Mohair producer, Ian Cathles, said the development of a goat health statement that included a risk rating system for Johne's disease provided a long-awaited management tool for the goat industry.

"There are many benefits for goat producers like myself and this statement reassures our industry that what stock we buy and sell is of good animal health and we can ask for a copy of the Goat Health Statement before making a purchasing decision," he said.

"There is an added bonus in the statement as it includes the risk rating for Johne’s disease and recognises the differences between the goat industry and the sheep and cattle industries."