Part 1
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Commonwealth legislation
This instrument sets the framework for exporting rabbit and ratite (emu, ostrich) meat from Australia by requiring permits, registered/approved operations, inspections, record-keeping, and controlled use of official marks.
It affects exporters, establishment operators, approved arrangement holders, authorised officers and auditors. It matters because it enforces food-safety, traceability and importing-country compliance to protect public health and Australia’s trade reputation.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021.
This instrument is the Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021.
This instrument is made under the Export Control Act 2020.
General
This instrument prescribes matters and makes other provision in relation to certain rabbit and ratite meat and rabbit and ratite meat products (prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products) for the purposes of the Export Control Act 2020 (the Act).
Prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products must not be exported from Australian territory unless the conditions prescribed by this instrument (prescribed export conditions) are complied with. A person may commit an offence or be liable to a civil penalty if prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products are exported in contravention of prescribed export conditions (see Division 4 of Part 1 of Chapter 2 of the Act).
This instrument prescribes other matters and makes other provision in relation to the export of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products, including in relation to the following:
(a) exemptions;
(b) government certificates;
(c) registered establishments;
(d) approved arrangements;
(e) export permits;
(f) notices of intention to export;
(g) trade descriptions;
(h) official marks and official marking devices;
(i) audits;
(j) assessments;
(k) functions and powers of authorised officers;
(l) records;
(m) samples;
(n) damaged or destroyed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products.
Structure of this instrument and Chapter numbering
This instrument is arranged in Chapters that have the same number and name as the corresponding Chapters in the Act. For example, the provisions of this instrument that are made for the purposes of Chapter 4—Registered establishments of the Act are included in Chapter 4—Registered establishments of this instrument. This means there are gaps in the Chapter numbering because there are no provisions for the purposes of some Chapters of the Act.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021.
This instrument is made under the Export Control Act 2020.
General
This instrument prescribes matters and makes other provision in relation to certain rabbit and ratite meat and rabbit and ratite meat products (prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products) for the purposes of the Export Control Act 2020 (the Act).
Prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products must not be exported from Australian territory unless the conditions prescribed by this instrument (prescribed export conditions) are complied with. A person may commit an offence or be liable to a civil penalty if prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products are exported in contravention of prescribed export conditions (see Division 4 of Part 1 of Chapter 2 of the Act).
This instrument prescribes other matters and makes other provision in relation to the export of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products, including in relation to the following:
(a) exemptions;
(b) government certificates;
(c) registered establishments;
(d) approved arrangements;
(e) export permits;
(f) notices of intention to export;
(g) trade descriptions;
(h) official marks and official marking devices;
(i) audits;
(j) assessments;
(k) functions and powers of authorised officers;
(l) records;
(m) samples;
(n) damaged or destroyed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products.
Structure of this instrument and Chapter numbering
This instrument is arranged in Chapters that have the same number and name as the corresponding Chapters in the Act. For example, the provisions of this instrument that are made for the purposes of Chapter 4—Registered establishments of the Act are included in Chapter 4—Registered establishments of this instrument. This means there are gaps in the Chapter numbering because there are no provisions for the purposes of some Chapters of the Act.
Chapter 1—Preliminary
This instrument is the Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021.
This instrument is made under the Export Control Act 2020.
General
This instrument prescribes matters and makes other provision in relation to certain rabbit and ratite meat and rabbit and ratite meat products (prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products) for the purposes of the Export Control Act 2020 (the Act).
Prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products must not be exported from Australian territory unless the conditions prescribed by this instrument (prescribed export conditions) are complied with. A person may commit an offence or be liable to a civil penalty if prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products are exported in contravention of prescribed export conditions (see Division 4 of Part 1 of Chapter 2 of the Act).
This instrument prescribes other matters and makes other provision in relation to the export of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products, including in relation to the following:
(a) exemptions;
(b) government certificates;
(c) registered establishments;
(d) approved arrangements;
(e) export permits;
(f) notices of intention to export;
(g) trade descriptions;
(h) official marks and official marking devices;
(i) audits;
(j) assessments;
(k) functions and powers of authorised officers;
(l) records;
(m) samples;
(n) damaged or destroyed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products.
Structure of this instrument and Chapter numbering
This instrument is arranged in Chapters that have the same number and name as the corresponding Chapters in the Act. For example, the provisions of this instrument that are made for the purposes of Chapter 4—Registered establishments of the Act are included in Chapter 4—Registered establishments of this instrument. This means there are gaps in the Chapter numbering because there are no provisions for the purposes of some Chapters of the Act.
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:
(a) Australian territory;
(b) authorised officer;
(c) export;
(d) export operations;
(e) integrity;
(f) prepare;
(g) prescribed agriculture law;
(h) Regulatory Powers Act.
In this instrument:
Act means the Export Control Act 2020, and includes:
(a) legislative instruments made under the Export Control Act 2020; and
(b) the Regulatory Powers Act as it applies in relation to the Export Control Act 2020.
animal means a rabbit or ratite.
animal food has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
applied, in relation to an official mark, has the meaning given by subsection 8‑19(1).
Note: For applied, in relation to a trade description, see section 247 of the Act.
approved auditor means an individual who is approved under subsection 273(1) of the Act to conduct an audit referred to in section 9‑1 of this instrument.
assessment of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products means an assessment of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products under Part 2 of Chapter 9 of the Act.
Note: See also Part 2 of Chapter 9 of this instrument.
Australian Meat Standard means Australian Standard AS 4696:2023, Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption, as in force on 1 July 2023.
batch has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
carcase has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
carcase part has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
carton includes a case, crate and barrel.
container system unit means a container designed for use as a unit of cargo handling equipment in the transport of goods by aircraft or vessel.
date of packaging, for packaged rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products, means:
(a) for further processed rabbit meat products or ratite meat products (other than canned rabbit meat products or ratite meat products):
(i) unless subparagraph (ii) applies—the date the further processing is completed; or
(ii) if the further processing is carried out during a working shift that starts on a day and ends on the following day—the date the shift started; or
(b) for canned rabbit meat products or ratite meat products:
(i) unless subparagraph (ii) applies—the date the cans are closed; or
(ii) if canning is carried out during a working shift that starts on a day and ends on the following day—the date the shift started; or
(c) for any other rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products:
(i) unless subparagraph (ii) applies—the date the first packaging was completed; or
(ii) if first packaging of the rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products is carried out during a working shift that starts on a day and ends on the following day—the date the first packaging started.
dressing means:
(a) in relation to a rabbit:
(i) the removal of the head, hide or skin, viscera (including or not including the kidneys), genital organs, bladder, feet up to the carpal and tarsal joints; and
(ii) in lactating animals, the removal of the mammary glands; or
(b) in relation to a ratite—the removal of the head, feathers, skin, viscera (including or not including the kidneys), genital organs, bladder and legs.
equipment has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
essential services has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
exporter of prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products means:
(a) the applicant for an export permit for the meat or meat products; or
(b) if an export permit has been issued for the meat or meat products—the holder of the export permit.
facilities includes hygiene and sanitation facilities.
further process has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
HACCP has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
HACCP plan means a plan that meets the requirements for HACCP plans specified in the Australian Meat Standard.
Note: See clause 3.11 of the Australian Meat Standard.
humane treatment means treatment not inconsistent with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Livestock at Slaughtering Establishments published by CSIRO Publishing, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument.
Note: This document could in 2021 be viewed on CSIRO Publishing’s website (https://www.publish.csiro.au).
inedible material means rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products that are normally regarded as of a kind that is not fit for human consumption.
ingredient means a substance (including a food additive) that is:
(a) a constituent of:
(i) rabbit meat or ratite meat; or
(ii) rabbit meat products or ratite meat products (including raw materials); or
(b) a processing aid for rabbit meat products or ratite meat products.
installed: a resources industry structure is installed in an area at a time if, assuming that the structure were a sea installation within the meaning of the Sea Installations Act 1987 and the area were part of an adjacent area within the meaning of that Act, the structure would be taken under section 6 of that Act to be installed in an adjacent area at the time.
loaded for export has the meaning given by section 1‑6.
meat extract means a rabbit meat product or ratite meat product that:
(a) is derived from rabbit meat or ratite meat that has been passed as fit for human consumption; and
(b) does not contain any non‑meat proteins or additives; and
(c) does not contain more than 25% moisture by analysis.
meat inspection position means a position that:
(a) is occupied by a Commonwealth authorised officer; and
(b) is allocated under Part 6 of Chapter 4 to an establishment for the purposes of undertaking meat inspection services at the establishment.
meat inspection service means an assessment of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products under Part 2 of Chapter 9 of the Act.
meat transport vehicle means a conveyance that is used to transport or transfer prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products and includes the meat carrying compartment of the conveyance.
MICoR means the Manual of Importing Country Requirements published by the Department.
Note: MICoR could in 2021 be viewed on the Department’s website (http://www.awe.gov.au), but access to the document requires a password.
notifiable disease has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
offal means any of the following parts of an animal:
(a) organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities;
(b) brain;
(c) muscular tissues of the head;
(d) tissues of the diaphragm;
(e) tail;
(f) feet;
(g) tendons.
pharmaceutical material has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
potable, in relation to water, means water that is acceptable for human consumption.
Note: For guidance, see the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The Guidelines could in 2021 be viewed on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au).
prescribed rabbit meat means rabbit meat that is prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
prescribed rabbit meat products means rabbit meat products that are prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products means rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products and ratite meat products that are prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products means rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products, that are prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
prescribed ratite meat means ratite meat that is prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
prescribed ratite meat products means ratite meat products that are prescribed goods under Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 2.
primary bleeding means the initial and major part of bleeding that follows incisions made to initiate exsanguination and is characterised by a continuous flow of blood.
rabbit means an animal from the genus Oryctolagus or Lepus in the family Leporidae of the order Lagmorpha.
rabbit meat means any part of a rabbit (including a rabbit carcase and offal) that is slaughtered other than in a wild state.
rabbit meat product means a product containing rabbit meat.
ratite means an emu or an ostrich.
ratite meat means any part of a ratite (including a ratite carcase and offal) that is slaughtered other than in a wild state.
ratite meat product means a product containing ratite meat.
registered, in relation to an establishment, means registered under Chapter 4 of the Act.
registered establishment means an establishment that is registered for a kind of export operations in relation to prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products.
relevant importing country authority means the authority or body that is responsible for regulating the importation of rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products into that country from Australian territory.
resources industry structure means:
(a) a resources industry fixed structure (within the meaning of the Sea Installations Act 1987); or
(b) a resources industry mobile unit (within the meaning of that Act) that is not a vessel.
restricted slaughter animal means an animal to which a disposition in accordance with paragraph 8.9(b) of the Australian Meat Standard (ante‑mortem dispositions) has been applied.
Note: An animal may be passed for slaughter subject to conditions (see paragraph 8.9(b) of the Australian Meat Standard).
shelf‑stable has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
slaughter has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
stunning has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
tallow means rendered fat or oil extracted from animal tissue.
Timor Sea Maritime Boundaries Treaty means the Treaty between Australia and the Democratic Republic of Timor‑Leste Establishing their Maritime Boundaries in the Timor Sea done at New York on 6 March 2018, as in force at the commencement of this instrument.
Note: The Treaty is in Australian Treaty Series 2019 No. 16 ([2019] ATS 16) and could in 2021 be viewed in the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (http://www.austlii.edu.au).
verify has the same meaning as in the Australian Meat Standard.
veterinary officer means an authorised officer:
(a) who holds a veterinarian qualification recognised in Australia; and
(b) whose most recent instrument of authorisation under subs
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.