{"id":"sr:agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025","name":"Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025","slug":"agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":183535,"registerId":"vic-sr:agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025**\n\n**S.R. No. 119/2025**\n\nVersion as at  \n7 December 2025\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objectives 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocation 2\n\n5 Definitions 2\n\n6 Requirements for labelling and advice notes for stock food which contains restricted animal material 3\n\n7 Requirements for labelling and advice notes for manufactured stock food which does not contain restricted animal material 4\n\n8 Requirements for labels and advice notes that accompany meal of animal origin 6\n\n9 Offences to deface, damage, remove or destroy label 7\n\n10 Offences involving mixing of stock foods 8\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 9\n\n1 General information 9\n\n2 Table of Amendments 11\n\n3 Explanatory details 12\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025**\n\n**S.R. No. 119/2025**\n\nVersion as at  \n7 December 2025\n\n\t1 Objectives\n\nThe objectives of these Regulations are—\n\n(a) to prescribe the requirements for labels or advice notes that must accompany the sale of—\n\n(i) stock food containing restricted animal material; and\n\n(ii) manufactured stock food that does not contain restricted animal material; and\n\n(iii) meal of animal origin; and\n\n(b) to provide for offences relating to statements that accompany stock food or meal of animal origin and damage to labels that contain such statements.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 76 of the **Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 7 December 2025.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2015[[1]](#endnote-1) are **revoked**.\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***Chief Veterinary Officer*** means the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action;\n\n***manufactured stock food*** means stock food that has undergone a manufacturing process, but does not include a stock food that is comprised entirely of, or any combination of, hay, straw, chaff, whole grains or whole seeds, milk products or products derived from milk;\n\n***restricted animal material*** means any material, tissue or blood taken from a vertebrate animal and includes meal obtained from rendering tissues and blood from animals, but does not include—\n\n(a) gelatin, milk products and oils extracted from fish; and\n\n(b) tallow and products containing rendered fats that comply with a specification of 2% maximum M+I (moisture plus insoluble impurities) as measured by a method approved in writing by the Chief Veterinary Officer; and\n\n(c) oil previously used for the purposes of cooking that—\n\n(i) has been collected, filtered (or centrifuged) and packaged in accordance with a process approved in writing by the Chief Veterinary Officer; and\n\n(ii) complies with a specification of 2% maximum M+I (moisture plus insoluble impurities) as measured by a method approved by the Chief Veterinary Officer; and\n\n(d) mineralised sea bird guano;\n\n***ruminant*** means any animal that chews its cud;\n\n***the Act*** means the **Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992**.\n\n\t6 Requirements for labelling and advice notes for stock food which contains restricted animal material\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, stock food which contains restricted animal material is a prescribed class of stock food.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed requirements in respect of a label or advice note that accompanies stock food referred to in subregulation (1) are that—\n\n(a) the label or advice note must contain a statement—\n\n(i) comprised of the following words—\n\n\"This product contains restricted animal material—DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, DEER OR OTHER RUMINANTS\"; and\n\n(ii) that is displayed in a prominent position; and\n\n(iii) that is in dark print on a light background or light print on a dark background; and\n\n(iv) that is not defaced or marked so as to be obscured; and\n\n(b) in the case of a label, the statement referred to in paragraph (a)—\n\n(i) if printed directly onto a bag weighing less than 20 kilograms of the stock food, must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(ii) if printed directly onto a bag weighing 20 kilograms or more of the stock food, must be comprised of letters of 10 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(iii) if fixed to the outside of a package containing the stock food, must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(iv) if the label accompanies a package of the stock food, must be contained in that label, which must measure at least 45 millimetres by 120 millimetres and be firmly attached to that package; and\n\n(c) in the case of an advice note, the statement referred to in paragraph (a) must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height.\n\n\t7 Requirements for labelling and advice notes for manufactured stock food which does not contain restricted animal material\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, manufactured stock food that does not contain restricted animal material is a prescribed class of stock food.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed requirements in respect of a label or advice note that accompanies manufactured stock food referred to in subregulation (1) are that—\n\n(a) the label or advice note must contain a statement—\n\n(i) comprised of the following words—\n\n\"This product does not contain restricted animal material\"; and\n\n(ii) that is displayed in a prominent position; and\n\n(iii) that is in dark print on a light background or light print on a dark background; and\n\n(iv) that is not defaced or marked so as to be obscured; and\n\n(b) in the case of a label, the statement referred to in paragraph (a)—\n\n(i) if printed directly onto a bag weighing less than 20 kilograms of the manufactured stock food, must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(ii) if printed directly onto a bag weighing 20 kilograms or more of the manufactured stock food, must be comprised of letters of 10 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(iii) if fixed to the outside of a package containing the manufactured stock food, must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(iv) if the label is accompanies a package of the manufactured stock food, must be contained in that label, which must measure at least 45 millimetres by 120 millimetres and be firmly attached to that package; and\n\n(c) in the case of an advice note, the statement referred to in paragraph (a) must be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height.\n\n\t8 Requirements for labels and advice notes that accompany meal of animal origin\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 20(1) of the Act, a label or advice note that accompanies meal of animal origin must contain the following statement—\n\n\"This product contains restricted animal material—DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, DEER OR OTHER RUMINANTS\".\n\n(2) The statement referred to in subregulation (1) must—\n\n(a) be displayed in a prominent position; and\n\n(b) in the case of a label—\n\n(i) if printed directly onto a bag weighing less than 20 kilograms of the meal of animal origin, be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(ii) if printed directly onto a bag weighing 20 kilograms or more of the meal of animal origin, be comprised of letters of 10 millimetres or more in height; or\n\n(iii) if fixed to the outside of a package containing the meal of animal origin, be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; and\n\n(c) if contained in an advice note, be comprised of letters of 3 millimetres or more in height; and\n\n(d) be in dark print on a light background or light print on a dark background; and\n\n(e) not be defaced or marked so as to be obscured.\n\n(3) If the meal of animal origin referred to in subregulation (1) is sold in a package, the statement referred to in subregulation (1) must be contained in a label that must measure at least 45 millimetres by 120 millimetres and be firmly attached to that package.\n\n(4) A label or advice note that complies with regulation 6 is taken to comply with the requirements of this regulation.\n\n\t9 Offences to deface, damage, remove or destroy label\n\n(1) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, deface, damage, remove or destroy a label prescribed in regulation 6 that accompanies stock food.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, deface, damage, remove or destroy a label prescribed in regulation 7 that accompanies manufactured stock food.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n(3) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, deface, damage, remove or destroy a label prescribed in regulation 8 that accompanies meal of animal origin.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n\t10 Offences involving mixing of stock foods\n\n(1) A person must not cause or permit restricted animal material to be mixed with stock food intended for ruminant use.\n\nPenalty: 50 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person must not possess restricted animal material for the purposes of mixing it with stock food intended for ruminant use.\n\nPenalty: 50 penalty units.\n\n(3) A person must not place restricted animal material in stock food intended for ruminant use.\n\nPenalty: 50 penalty units.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 119/2025 were made on 25 November 2025 by the Lieutenant-Governor as the Governor's deputy, with the advice of the Executive Council, under section 76 of the **Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992**, No. 46/1992 and came into operation on 7 December 2025: regulation 3.\n\nThe Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 25 November 2035 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2025 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4: S.R. No. 146/2015.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Penalty Units**\n\n  These Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2025 is $203.51. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. [↑](#endnote-ref-1)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, the regulation appears to remain tightly focused on its stated purpose — controlling the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in ruminant animal feed. There is no evidence of scope creep beyond this specific subject matter. The title and instrument type are consistent with a narrow, targeted regulatory update."},"complexity_factors":["Limited legislative text provided — the document appears to be a version history or metadata record rather than the full regulatory content, making full analysis impossible","Operates within a broader regulatory framework (the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act) requiring knowledge of the parent legislation","Technical subject matter involving animal husbandry and chemical/feed science, which may be complex for non-specialists","Relatively narrow and specific subject matter (ruminant feed only) keeps overall complexity low","Likely mirrors or updates pre-existing national or state feed restriction frameworks, reducing novelty"],"plain_english_summary":"These Victorian regulations set legally binding limits on what can be fed to ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats, deer), restricting certain substances and placing compliance obligations on farmers, feed manufacturers and feedlot operators. They aim to prevent diseases like BSE and protect food safety in the human food chain. Non‑compliance can attract penalties."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations maintain their original narrow purpose: preventing BSE transmission through feed controls. The 2025 version appears to be a straightforward re-enactment/revocation and replacement of the 2015 regulations with updated penalty values and minor technical updates, without expansion into new policy areas."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: only 10 regulations plus endnotes","Limited defined terms: 5 definitions in regulation 5, with nested exclusions within the 'restricted animal material' definition","Straightforward structure: linear progression from objectives → definitions → labelling requirements → offences","Minimal cross-referencing: only references to sections 18 and 20 of the parent Act, plus standard interpretation provisions","Prescriptive but clear: specific measurements (3mm, 10mm, 45mm x 120mm) create compliance certainty rather than ambiguity","No conditional logic or exceptions to exceptions in the operative provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set strict labelling rules for animal feed to prevent a deadly brain disease called **BSE** (mad cow disease) from entering Australia's food chain. They require clear warnings on any feed containing \"restricted animal material\" — basically, any meat, blood, or tissue from animals that could carry disease.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Feed manufacturers and sellers** — must label products correctly\n- **Farmers and livestock owners** — need to read labels and keep certain feeds away from cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and other ruminants (animals that chew their cud)\n- **Anyone handling feed packaging** — it's illegal to damage or remove warning labels\n\n**The key rules:**\n\n- **If feed contains animal material:** Must carry a prominent warning: *\"This product contains restricted animal material—DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, DEER OR OTHER RUMINANTS\"*\n- **If manufactured feed does NOT contain animal material:** Must still state: *\"This product does not contain restricted animal material\"*\n- **Specific sizes matter:** Warning letters must be 3mm or 10mm high depending on bag size\n- **No mixing allowed:** You cannot mix restricted animal material into feed intended for ruminants, or even possess it for that purpose\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nBSE spreads when cattle eat feed containing infected animal tissue. These rules create a \"firewall\" protecting Australia's livestock industry and human food safety. Breaking these rules can result in fines up to 50 penalty units (roughly $10,175 for the most serious offences)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument revokes the 2015 Regulations (reg 4) and reissues detailed labelling, definition and offence provisions; it does not on its face state an expansion or narrowing of regulated classes beyond the explicit definitions and exclusions (reg 5) and therefore does not clearly change scope from what the Regulations aim to regulate."},"complexity_factors":["Prescriptive labelling rules with multiple format and size permutations (regs 6–8) increase compliance detail though they are mechanically simple.","Criminal penalties and monetary penalties referenced by penalty units require linkages to the Sentencing Act 1991 and Monetary Units Act 2004 for monetary conversion (regs 9–10; Endnotes).","Definitions carve out specific exclusions for 'restricted animal material' and give technical thresholds (2% M+I) and Chief Veterinary Officer approval for methods and measurement, creating administrative discretion (reg 5(b)–(c)).","Interplay with primary Act provisions (sections 18(1)(b) and 20(1) of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992) means the Regulations operate by prescribing classes and requirements under the Act (regs 6–8).","Revocation of the 2015 Regulations requires affected parties to update compliance systems and labelling practices to the 2025 text (reg 4).","Simple offence structure (prohibitions on mixing, possessing for mixing, and label interference) is low in legal doctrinal complexity but high in practical compliance burden for supply‑chain actors (regs 9–10)."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations prescribe mandatory label and advice‑note wording, size and format for stock foods and animal‑origin meals, prohibit mixing restricted animal material into ruminant feed, and create offences for defacing required labels. They apply to manufacturers, packagers, sellers and feed handlers who must meet labelling specifications, follow Chief Veterinary Officer–approved methods or specifications for certain materials, and face fines for non‑compliance, shifting compliance costs and enforcement risk onto business operators."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025","history":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-control-of-use-ruminant-feed-regulations-2025/documents"}}