The proposed amendments to the Livestock Regulations are a continuation (Tranche 2) from the Livestock Act 2008 amendments that were implemented in April 2024 (Tranche 1). The objectives of the proposed amendments are to:
- Continue modernisation of the NTs biosecurity health system capabilities including aligning with national biosecurity systems
- Enhance identification and traceability systems for livestock movements to support industry and market access
- Undertake administrative and clarification amendments where identified
- Better and more flexible biosecurity enforcement and compliance abilities to better protect and support industry through the greater use of infringement notice offences.
The proposed amendments to the Livestock Regulations include:
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
- Sheep and goats – requirement for electronic Identification (eID)
- In 2022, all states and territories committed to implementing mandatory national traceability system using eID for sheep and goats
- Transaction tags for sheep and goats will be removed from the Regulations as they will no longer be an accepted device for movements.
- The removal of transaction tags for buffalo (i.e. only NLIS accredited devices are to be used), and the inclusion of rumen boluses to align with national requirements and current management practices.
Brands
- The list of branding positions is to be amended to remove the positions which are no longer acceptable for use (i.e. neck and rib)
- An amendment to ensure that symbol brands are required to be constructed on one handle.
Land Transport Standards
- Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Land Transport of Livestock (Edition 1, Version 1.1) was endorsed in 2012, however the Regulations refer to the previous version (Version 1)
- The amendments will ensure that the standards/codes align with the updated Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Land Transport of Livestock (Edition 1, Version 1.1)
- Amendments have been proposed to streamline the penalty amounts for offences under the Land Transport Standards, specifically that each offence has the same maximum penalty amount.
Property Identification Codes (PIC)
- An amendment to the Livestock Regulations to ensure that the following livestock are required to have a Property Identification Code (PIC) – ostriches, emus, pigeons, bison, and crocodiles.
Prohibited Pig Feed
- Feeding prohibited pig feed (PPF), previously known as swill, to pigs is a critical risk factor for the introduction of several significant emergency animal diseases, including Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF).
- The proposed amendments to the Livestock Regulations will update the definitions for PPF (i.e. what PPF is and is not) and penalty offences to ensure alignment with national guidelines and other state and territories.
Please contact your Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer if you have any comments or concerns.
| Darwin Rob Wait 0401 115 802 Rob.wait@nt.gov.au | Tennant Creek Greg Maguire 0457 517 347 Greg.maguire@nt.gov.au |
| Katherine Joshua Haigh 0467 740 299 Joshua.haigh@nt.gov.au | Alice Springs Kristen Bullen 0401 118 125 Kristen.bullen@nt.gov.au |
