39Offences—permanent identifier not to be removed

39 Offences—permanent identifier not to be removed (1) A person must not remove a permanent identifier that is attached to identifiable stock. (2) A person must not do any of the following with identifiable stock if the permanent identifier for the stock has been removed: (a) buy or sell the stock; (b) move the stock from a property. (4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the permanent identifier is removed from the stock in any of the following circumstances: (a) the identifier is removed after the stock is slaughtered at an abattoir; (b) the identifier is removed after the stock has died and there is no requirement under the Act to notify the director-general about the death; Examples—requirement to notify director-general about death of animal • the stock is infected with prohibited biosecurity matter (see Act, s 26) • the stock is infected with notifiable biosecurity matter (see Act, s 30) (c) for electronically identified stock—the electronic device cannot be read electronically and a new electronic device is attached to the stock immediately after the old device is removed;

Section 40 (d) the identifier is removed by any of the following people: (i) an authorised person; (ii) a food inspector; (iii) an animal welfare inspector. (5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (2) reasonably be expected to have known, that the permanent identifier had been removed from the stock. s (5) (see Criminal Code, s 59). (6) In this section: permanent identifier includes an identifier attached to identifiable stock under a corresponding biosecurity law.