NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
MEAT INDUSTRIES ACT 1996
As in force at 27 November 2023
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Objects ............................................................................................ 1
4 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1
5 Application ....................................................................................... 6
6 Permit to slaughter .......................................................................... 7
Part 2 Administration
7 Chief Inspector may approve fees ................................................... 7
8 Delegation by Chief Inspector.......................................................... 8
9 Meat inspectors ............................................................................... 8
10 Identity cards ................................................................................... 8
11 Quality assurance programs ............................................................ 9
12 Registers ......................................................................................... 9
Part 3 Licences
Division 1 Applications
13 Applications for licences ................................................................ 10
14 Applications relating to establishment in area subject to
development provisions or interim development control order ...... 11
15 Applications relating to establishment in area not subject to
development provisions or interim development control order ...... 11
16 Advertisements in relation to establishments................................. 12
Division 2 Objections and investigations
17 Objections to proposed applications .............................................. 13
18 Investigations regarding applicants ............................................... 13
Division 3 Grant of licences
19 Chief Inspector may grant licences................................................ 13
20 Conditions of licences .................................................................... 15
21 Trial slaughter before grant of licence ........................................... 16
Meat Industries Act 1996 ii
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
22 Duration of licence ......................................................................... 16
23 Renewal of licence ........................................................................ 16
24 Variation of licence ........................................................................ 17
25 Amendment and revocation of condition of licence ....................... 18
26 Transfer of licence ......................................................................... 18
27 Cancellation and suspension of licence, &c................................... 19
28 Surrender of licence ...................................................................... 20
Part 4 Managers and supervision of operations
under licence
29 Nomination of manager in application ........................................... 20
30 Nomination of manager after grant of licence ................................ 21
31 Supervision of operations under licences ...................................... 22
32 Where manager, &c. ceases to be fit and proper person, &c. ....... 22
Part 5 Offences
Division 1 Slaughter, processing and sale of meat for
human consumption
33 Sale of meat for human consumption ............................................ 22
34 Slaughter and processing of meat for human consumption ........... 23
35 Presumption as to whether meat intended for human
consumption .................................................................................. 24
Division 2 Pet meat
36 Sale of pet meat ............................................................................ 24
37 Slaughter and processing of pet meat ........................................... 25
38 Purchase of pet meat .................................................................... 25
39 Transport of pet meat .................................................................... 26
Division 2A Bait meat
40A Sale of bait meat............................................................................ 26
40B Slaughter and processing of bait meat .......................................... 27
40C Transport of bait meat ................................................................... 27
Division 3 Disease and contamination
40 Slaughter of diseased or contaminated animals ............................ 27
41 Birdsville Horse Disease ................................................................ 28
42 Persons with disease ..................................................................... 28
Meat Industries Act 1996 iii
Division 4 Miscellaneous
43 Inspector not to receive gifts of meat ............................................. 29
44 Person not to alter, &c., establishment .......................................... 29
45 Copying or use of stamp ................................................................ 29
46 Falsely identifying meat ................................................................. 30
47 Restrictions on slaughter ............................................................... 30
48 Disposal of condemned meat ........................................................ 31
49 Evidence of possession for sale .................................................... 32
50 Refrigeration of meat, or storage of refrigerated meat, for sale ..... 32
51 Hindering inspectors, &c. ............................................................... 32
52 Movement of stock from establishment ......................................... 33
53 Transportation of meat .................................................................. 33
54 Failure to notify or lodge report ...................................................... 34
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 1 Powers of inspectors
55 Production of identity card ............................................................. 34
56 Powers of inspector to enter .......................................................... 34
57 Other powers of inspectors ............................................................ 35
58 Power of inspector in relation to persons suffering from
disease .......................................................................................... 37
Division 2 Liability and procedure
59 General offences and penalties ..................................................... 37
60 Institution of proceedings ............................................................... 38
61 Court may suspend or cancel licence ............................................ 38
62 Liability for acts .............................................................................. 38
63 Liability of directors, managers and corporations .......................... 38
64 Averments and evidence ............................................................... 39
65 Evidence of sale or slaughter ........................................................ 40
66 Seizure and forfeiture .................................................................... 40
Part 7 Review of decisions
67 Review by NTCAT ......................................................................... 42
Part 8 Miscellaneous
70 Replacement licence ..................................................................... 42
71 Notices........................................................................................... 43
72 Minister may declare or amend standards, &c............................... 43
73 Acquisition to be on just terms ....................................................... 43
74 Regulations.................................................................................... 43
Meat Industries Act 1996 iv
Part 9 Repeal and savings
75 Repeal ........................................................................................... 46
76 Transitional .................................................................................... 46
Part 10 Transitional matters for Statute Law
Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
77 Definitions ...................................................................................... 47
78 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement.... 47
79 Appeals not commenced before commencement.......................... 47
80 Appeals not determined before commencement ........................... 48
Schedule 1 Acts repealed
Schedule 2 Reviewable decisions
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 27 November 2023
MEAT INDUSTRIES ACT 1996
An Act to protect public health and promote domestic and export
markets for the meat industry by providing for the processing of
wholesome meat for human consumption and for related purposes
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Meat Industries Act 1996.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the
Administrator by notice in the Gazette.
3 Objects
The objects of this Act are:
(a) to ensure that meat produced for human consumption is
wholesome;
(b) to ensure that pet meat produced for pet food or bait meat, is
not substituted for meat produced for human consumption;
(c) to ensure the humane slaughter of animals for human
consumption, pet meat and bait meat; and
(d) to foster export and domestic markets for meat for human
consumption, pet meat and bait meat.
4 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
abattoir animal means a head of cattle, a sheep, pig, goat, buffalo,
deer, horse, donkey, hinny, mule, camel, rabbit, hare, poultry or a
crocodile and includes a species or type of animal declared under
subsection (2)(a) but does not include a game animal.
Part 1 Preliminary
Meat Industries Act 1996 2
animal means an abattoir animal, a game animal, an animal
slaughtered for pet meat or bait meat, poultry and a bird but does
not include a fish or aquatic life.
approved means approved by the Chief Inspector in writing.
approved fee means a fee approved by the Chief Inspector under
section 7.
bait meat means meat intended for use as bait.
by-product means all of, or part of, an animal, which animal or part
of an animal is unfit for human consumption.
carcass means the whole dressed body of a slaughtered animal.
Chief Inspector, see the Livestock Act 2008.
code of practice means a code of practice declared under
section 72.
corresponding law means an Act, or an instrument of a legislative
or administrative character made under an Act, in force in a State or
another Territory of the Commonwealth, that corresponds as nearly
as practicable to this Act, and includes the Export Control Act 1982
of the Commonwealth and an instrument of a legislative or
administrative character made under that Act.
dressed, in relation to a slaughtered animal, means dressed as
prescribed.
drover means a person in charge of travelling livestock being
moved in accordance with the Livestock Act 2008.
establishment means a building or land used for the purposes of a
licence but does not include a part of an establishment used for
administrative or clerical purposes or a shop.
game animal means a pig, brumby, donkey or banteng that is not
husbanded in the manner of a farmed animal and, where it is
slaughtered, is slaughtered in the field and includes a species or
type of bird or animal declared under subsection (2)(b) that is not
husbanded in the manner of a farmed animal and, where it is
slaughtered, is slaughtered in the field.
game meat means meat from a game animal.
identity card means a card issued under section 10 or a card that
is deemed under section 10(3) or 76(4) to be an identity card.
Part 1 Preliminary
Meat Industries Act 1996 3
inspector means a person who is an inspector under section 9 or
under section 76(3).
licence means a licence granted under this Act that is in force.
licensee means the holder of a licence.
manager means a person approved under section 29(3) or 30(3).
meat for human consumption means meat intended for human
consumption and includes offal that is fit for human consumption,
but does not include pet meat or bait meat.
meat transport vehicle means the meat-carrying compartment of
a vehicle, but does not include a prime mover, if any, to which the
vehicle is attached or a cab chassis forming part of the vehicle.
pet means a carnivorous domestic animal or a carnivorous captive
animal.
pet meat means the fresh, chilled or frozen body, carcass, flesh or
other product derived from an animal, that is intended to be fed to
pets, but does not include a body, carcass, flesh or other meat
product, derived from an animal, that is:
(a) condemned under this Act as unfit for pet food;
(b) heat sterilised in an hermetically sealed package or heat dried;
or
(c) processed, heat treated (but not sterilised), packed and sealed
in a manner in respect of which a declaration has been made
under subsection (3).
pet meat processing unit means a transportable unit designed or
intended to process pet meat, that forms part of a vehicle or is
designed to be moved with a vehicle.
poultry means a domestic fowl, duck, goose, turkey or quail and
includes a species or type of bird declared under subsection (2)(c).
prescribed disease means a disease declared under
subsection (2)(d) or prescribed in the Regulations.
process, in relation to meat, means to physically or chemically
change meat from the carcass of an animal, but does not include
chilling or freezing meat or preparing meat for immediate
consumption.
Part 1 Preliminary
Meat Industries Act 1996 4
quality assurance program means a program approved under
section 11 in respect of a licence and includes an amendment to a
program.
register means a register maintained under section 12.
relevant conviction, in relation to a person, means the person has
been found guilty of an offence against:
(a) this Act;
(b) the repealed Acts; or
(c) a corresponding law,
for which he or she was imprisoned or fined $1,000 or more.
repealed Acts means the Acts repealed by section 75.
retailer means a person who:
(a) purchases and receives meat at a shop or at a residence used
for commercial meat processing within the meaning of
section 34 or principally for the purposes of resale from a shop
or the residence; and
(b) from the shop or residence, disposes of meat principally to
people who do not intend to resell the meat or disposes of
meat to people who intend to resell the meat in a cooked or
marinated state or for immediate consumption.
sell means every method of disposition for valuable consideration
and includes:
(a) barter;
(b) the disposition to an agent for sale on consignment;
(c) offering for sale;
(d) receiving or possessing for sale;
(e) exposing for sale;
(f) sending or delivering for sale; and
(g) causing or permitting to be sold, offered, or exposed for sale.
shop means a place at which retail trade is carried on.
standard means a standard declared under section 72.
Part 1 Preliminary
Meat Industries Act 1996 5
this Act includes the Regulations and any other instrument of an
administrative or legislative character made under this Act.
vehicle means a motor vehicle within the meaning of the Motor
Vehicles Act 1949.
vessel includes a ship, boat, hovercraft, raft or pontoon and any
other thing capable of carrying persons or goods through or on
water.
wholesaler means a person who sells meat to a person for the
purposes of sale of that meat by that other person.
(2) The Chief Inspector may, by notice in the Gazette, declare:
(a) a species or type of animal to be an abattoir animal;
(b) a species or type of animal to be a game animal;
(c) a species or type of bird to be poultry; and
(d) a disease to be a prescribed disease.
(3) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare that a product,
derived from an animal, that is intended to be fed to pets and is
processed, heat treated, packed and/or sealed in a manner
specified in the notice, is not pet meat for the purposes of this Act.
(4) In this Act, a reference to the Export Control Act 1982 of the
Commonwealth includes a reference to an Act of the
Commonwealth in substitution for that Act.
(5) For the purposes of this Act, a person is not a fit and proper person
if:
(a) the person, or an associate of the person, is not of good
repute having regard to character, honesty and integrity;
(b) the person, or an associate of the person, has a business
association with a person, body or association who or which is
not of good repute having regard to character, honesty and
integrity; or
(c) a director, partner, trustee, executive officer, secretary or any
other officer or person who is or is likely to be associated or
connected with the ownership, administration or management
of the establishment to which the application relates is not a
suitable person to be so associated or connected.
Part 1 Preliminary
Meat Industries Act 1996 6
(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), a person (the associate) is the
associate of another person (the principal) if the associate:
(a) holds or will hold a relevant financial interest, or is or will be
entitled to participate in:
(i) a directorial, managerial or executive decision; or
(ii) the election of a person to a position within the business
(whether in right of the person or on behalf of any other
person),
in respect of the operation of an establishment under this Act
by the principal, and by virtue of that entitlement is able or
would be able to exercise significant influence over or with
respect to the management or operation of the establishment;
(b) holds or will hold the position of director, manager, secretary
or other executive power whether in right of the associate or
on behalf of any other person, in the operation of an
establishment under this Act by the principal;
(c) is a spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or sibling of the
principal; or
(d) is an agent of the principal.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6)(a), a relevant financial interest in
respect of the operation of an establishment means:
(a) a share in the capital of;
(b) an entitlement to receive income derived from; or
(c) an entitlement to receive payment as a result of money
advanced to,
the business operating the establishment.
5 Application
This Act does not apply to or in relation to the slaughter, storage or
processing of an animal, including its carcass or its meat or other
product, where the animal is:
(a) slaughtered by a person, on land owned or occupied by the
person, for consumption of its meat, principally on that land,
by:
(i) the person;
Part 2 Administration
Meat Industries Act 1996 7
(ii) other persons who reside with the person;
(iii) the person's employees or non-paying guests; or
(iv) paying guests, where they are aware that the animal
was slaughtered on the property and where they are not
guests at a shop, roadhouse or other similar premises;
or
(b) slaughtered by a drover for consumption of its meat principally
by:
(i) the drover;
(ii) members of the drover's family accompanying the
drover; or
(iii) the drover's employees engaged on the drive or the
drover's guests,
if the person or drover does not sell the carcass, meat or another
product of the animal (other than its hide or horns) other than to an
employee, whether as part of the employee's contract of
employment or otherwise.
6 Permit to slaughter
(1) A person may apply to the Chief Inspector for a permit to slaughter
an animal for religious purposes.
(2) The Chief Inspector may, on the application of a person and the
payment of the approved fee, if any, permit the slaughter of an
animal for religious purposes on such conditions as the Chief
Inspector thinks fit and specifies on the permit document.
(3) A person granted a permit under subsection (1) is, in relation to
actions performed under the permit, exempted from the application
of the provisions of this Act specified on the permit document.
Part 2 Administration
7 Chief Inspector may approve fees
The Chief Inspector may, by notice in the Gazette, approve a fee
that is payable under this Act.
Part 2 Administration
Meat Industries Act 1996 8
8 Delegation by Chief Inspector
(1) The Chief Inspector may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a
person, or to a person holding, acting in or performing the duties of
an office, any of his or her powers and functions under this Act,
other than this power of delegation.
(2) A power or function delegated under this section, when exercised
or performed by the delegate, shall be deemed to have been
exercised or performed by the Chief Inspector.
(3) A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a
power or the performance of a function by the Chief Inspector.
9 Meat inspectors
(1) The Chief Inspector may appoint a person to be an inspector for the
purposes of this Act.
(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) may resign office by
writing signed by him or her and delivered to the Chief Inspector.
(3) Every member of the Police Force is an inspector for the purposes
of this Act.
(4) Every authorised person within the meaning of the Export Control
Act 1982 of the Commonwealth is an inspector for the purposes of
this Act.
10 Identity cards
(1) The Minister shall issue to the Chief Inspector an identity card
containing a photograph and the signature of the Chief Inspector,
verified by the signature of the Minister.
(2) The Chief Inspector shall issue to each inspector appointed under
section 9(1) an identity card containing a photograph of the
inspector and the signature of the inspector, verified by the Chief
Inspector.
(3) An identity card issued under:
(a) the Export Control Act 1982 of the Commonwealth to an
authorised person within the meaning of that Act; or
(b) the Livestock Act 2008,
shall be deemed to be an identity card issued under this Act.
Part 2 Administration
Meat Industries Act 1996 9
(4) The holder of an identity card, other than an identity card referred to
in subsection (3), shall, as soon as practicable after ceasing to be
an inspector, return the card to:
(a) where the Minister issued the card – the Minister; or
(b) in any other case – the Chief Inspector.
Maximum penalty for an offence against subsection (4): 10 penalty
units.
11 Quality assurance programs
(1) The holder of a licence or an applicant for a licence may apply to
the Chief Inspector for approval of a draft quality assurance
program, being an instrument specifying:
(a) procedures to be followed, in relation to a licence under this
Act, for:
(i) the slaughtering, packaging, processing, dispatch and/or
importation into an establishment of meat for human
consumption; or
(ii) the production of pet meat or bait meat; and
(b) other matters connected with procedures to be performed
under a licence or otherwise in relation to a licence.
(2) A licensee or an applicant for a licence may request assistance in
the preparation and development of a draft quality assurance
program and, on payment of the approved fee, the Chief Inspector,
or a person approved for the purpose, may comply with the request.
(3) Where the Chief Inspector is satisfied that the procedures set out in
a draft quality assurance program may be performed under the
program in accordance with this Act, he or she may, by written
notice, approve the quality assurance program in relation to a
licence or a proposed licence.
12 Registers
The Chief Inspector shall cause to be maintained a register
containing:
(a) the names and addresses of licensees;
(b) details of the grant, renewal, variation or transfer of licences;
(c) details of the expiry, suspension or cancellation of licences;
Part 3 Licences
Division 1 Applications
Meat Industries Act 1996 10
(d) the numbers assigned to licences under section 19(7);
(e) records of the design of stamps authorised under section 45;
(f) details of the areas in which pet meat processing units are
operating or in which operations under game meat slaughter
licences, pet meat slaughter licences or bait meat licences are
being carried out; and
(g) such other information as the Chief Inspector thinks fit.
Part 3 Licences
Division 1 Applications
13 Applications for licences
(1) A person may apply in the approved form accompanied by the
approved fee to the Chief Inspector for the grant of:
(a) a domestic abattoir licence;
(b) an export abattoir licence;
(c) a domestic poultry abattoir licence;
(d) an export poultry abattoir licence;
(e) a domestic processing licence;
(f) an export processing licence;
(g) a domestic game meat processing licence;
(h) an export game meat processing licence;
(j) a pet meat processing licence or a pet meat processing
(transportable) licence; or
(k) a cold store licence.
(2) A natural person may apply in the approved form accompanied by
the approved fee to the Chief Inspector for the grant of:
(a) a pet meat slaughter licence;
(b) a game meat slaughter licence; or
(c) a bait meat licence permitting the slaughter of animals for bait
meat and the processing, storage and sale of bait meat.
Part 3 Licences
Division 1 Applications
Meat Industries Act 1996 11
(3) An application under subsection (2) shall:
(a) specify each area of land in which it is intended to slaughter
animals or game animals under the licence; and
(b) contain proof of the permission of the owner of each area of
land to the slaughter of animals or game animals by the
applicant.
(4) The Chief Inspector may request further information in respect of an
application under this section and may refuse to grant a licence
until the information is provided.
(5) A person may apply for and be granted a licence in respect of more
than one location for an establishment, but each location shall be
the subject of a separate notice as required by section 16 and, if the
application is successful, a separate licence.
14 Applications relating to establishment in area subject to
development provisions or interim development control order
An application under section 13 in respect of an existing
establishment located in an area of land subject to the development
provisions, or an interim development control order, under the
Planning Act 1999, or a proposed establishment proposed to be
located in such an area, shall be accompanied by proof that:
(a) the land may, under the Planning Act 1999, be used or
developed for the purposes of an establishment; and
(b) the relevant notice has been published under section 16 not
less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the
application is made.
15 Applications relating to establishment in area not subject to
development provisions or interim development control order
(1) An application under section 13 in respect of an existing
establishment located in an area of land not subject to the
development provisions, or an interim development control order,
under the Planning Act 1999 shall be accompanied by proof that
the relevant notice has been published under section 16 not less
than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the application is
made.
Part 3 Licences
Division 1 Applications
Meat Industries Act 1996 12
(2) An application for a licence in respect of a proposed establishment
proposed to be located in an area of land not subject to the
development provisions, or an interim development control order,
under the Planning Act 1999 shall be accompanied by proof that:
(a) the relevant requirements of the Environment Protection
Act 2019 and the Civil Aviation Act 1988 of the
Commonwealth have been or will be satisfied; and
(b) the relevant notice has been published under section 16 not
less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the
application is made.
16 Advertisements in relation to establishments
(1) A person who proposes to apply for a licence in respect of a
proposed establishment shall publish in a newspaper circulating in
the area in which it is proposed to locate the establishment a notice
stating:
(a) the type of licence to be applied for;
(b) the proposed site of the establishment;
(c) the name of the person;
(d) that a person may lodge with the Chief Inspector, within
14 days after the publication of the notice, an objection to the
proposed application on the grounds that the proposed site is
not a suitable site for the establishment; and
(e) such matters, if any, as are prescribed.
(2) A person who proposes to apply for a licence in respect of an
existing establishment:
(a) in relation to which a licence under this or one of the repealed
Acts has not been in force within the 2 year period
immediately before the application; or
(b) being a licence (including a licence granted under one of the
repealed Acts) of a type not previously granted to the
applicant in respect of the establishment,
shall publish in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the
establishment is located, a notice stating:
(c) the type of licence to be applied for;
(d) the site of the establishment;
Part 3 Licences
Division 3 Grant of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 13
(e) the name of the person;
(f) that a person may lodge with the Chief Inspector within
14 days after the publication of the notice an objection to the
proposed application for a licence on the grounds that the
proposed site is not, or is no longer, a suitable site for the
location of the establishment to be operated under a licence of
the type applied for; and
(g) such matters, if any, as are prescribed.
Division 2 Objections and investigations
17 Objections to proposed applications
(1) A person may, not later than 14 days after the publication of a
notice under section 16, lodge with the Chief Inspector a written
objection to a proposed application for a licence, stating the
reasons for the objection.
(2) The Chief Inspector shall, within 90 days after receiving an
objection under subsection (1), make such investigations in relation
to the objection as he or she thinks fit.
(3) The Chief Inspector may call for and conduct a public meeting, in
such manner as he or she thinks fit, to consider the objection under
subsection (2).
18 Investigations regarding applicants
The Chief Inspector may, within 90 days after receiving an
application for a licence, conduct, or cause to be conducted, such
investigations as he or she thinks fit to determine whether an
applicant for a licence:
(a) is a fit and proper person; or
(b) has a relevant conviction.
Division 3 Grant of licences
19 Chief Inspector may grant licences
(1) The Chief Inspector may, on payment of the approved fee by an
applicant, grant a licence in the approved form.
(2) The Chief Inspector shall not grant a licence unless satisfied that
the applicant and the person nominated under section 29, if any, is
a fit and proper person and does not have a relevant conviction.
Part 3 Licences
Division 3 Grant of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 14
(3) The Chief Inspector shall only grant a licence in respect of an
establishment if:
(a) more than 30 days have elapsed since the publication of the
notice required to be published under section 16; and
(b) he or she has considered the objections, if any, under
section 17.
(4) The Chief Inspector shall only grant:
(a) an export abattoir licence;
(b) an export poultry abattoir licence;
(c) an export processing licence; or
(d) an export game meat processing licence,
if he or she is satisfied that the establishment is constructed in
accordance with the requirements applicable to the establishment
under the Export Control Act 1982 of the Commonwealth.
(5) The Chief Inspector shall only grant:
(a) a domestic abattoir licence;
(b) a domestic poultry abattoir licence;
(c) a domestic processing licence;
(d) a domestic game meat processing licence; or
(e) a pet meat processing licence,
if he or she is satisfied the establishment to be used under the
licence:
(f) is constructed in accordance with the Regulations, if any,
relating to the construction of establishments;
(g) where a standard or code of practice relating to the
construction of an establishment is to be specified on the
licence – is constructed in accordance with that standard or
code; or
Part 3 Licences
Division 3 Grant of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 15
(h) where there are no Regulations relating to such an
establishment and no standard or code of practice relating to
the construction of an establishment is to be specified on the
licence, it is constructed:
(i) in the case of a domestic abattoir licence or a domestic
poultry abattoir licence – so as to permit hygienic and
humane slaughter and processing under the licence; or
(ii) in the case of a domestic processing licence, a domestic
game meat processing licence or a pet meat processing
licence – so as to permit hygienic processing under the
licence.
(6) The Chief Inspector shall not grant a pet meat processing
(transportable) licence unless an inspector:
(a) has inspected the pet meat processing unit at the site at which
it is proposed to locate the unit; and
(b) is satisfied that the pet meat processing unit will permit the
hygienic processing of pet meat.
(7) The Chief Inspector shall assign a number to each licence granted
under this section and record the number in a register.
20 Conditions of licences
A licence is subject to:
(a) the prescribed conditions, if any; and
(b) such other conditions the Chief Inspector thinks fit and
specifies on the licence document, including, but not limited to:
(i) the species that may be slaughtered, or the species from
which meat may be processed, packed or stored, for
sale;
(ii) whether the operations at an establishment shall only be
performed in accordance with a quality assurance
program approved in relation to the licence;
(iii) in the case of a game meat slaughter licence, pet meat
slaughter licence or bait meat licence – the areas from
which animals to be slaughtered may be obtained; or
(iv) a standard or code of practice in accordance with which
an establishment shall be constructed, or operations
shall be carried out, under the licence.
Part 3 Licences
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 16
21 Trial slaughter before grant of licence
(1) The Chief Inspector may require an applicant for a licence of a kind
referred to in section 13(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) to slaughter an animal
in the establishment to which the licence relates under and in
accordance with the directions of the Chief Inspector.
(2) The Chief Inspector may refuse to grant a licence until a slaughter
referred to in subsection (1) is completed to the satisfaction of the
Chief Inspector.
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
22 Duration of licence
(1) Subject to this Act, a licence remains in force:
(a) for one licensing year; or
(b) such number of licensing years, being not more than 5, as the
Chief Inspector thinks fit and specifies on the licence.
(2) A licensing year in relation to a licence commences on the date on
which the licence is granted or renewed and continues until:
(a) 30 June of the next following calendar year; or
(b) where the licence is granted or renewed for more than one
licensing year – 30 June of the last licensing year specified on
the licence.
23 Renewal of licence
(1) A licensee may, not earlier than 3 months before the expiration of
his or her licence, apply to the Chief Inspector for a renewal of the
licence.
(2) An application under subsection (1) shall be:
(a) in the approved form; and
(b) accompanied by the approved application fee.
(3) The Chief Inspector:
(a) may, notwithstanding that a licence has expired, renew the
licence if the application is received before one month after
the expiry of the licence, on payment of the approved
application fee and the approved late fee; and
Part 3 Licences
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 17
(b) shall not renew a licence where the application is made more
than one month after the licence has expired.
(4) The Chief Inspector may renew a licence where he or she is
satisfied that:
(a) the circumstances in which the licence was granted have not
altered so significantly as to warrant a refusal to renew the
licence; and
(b) the licensee:
(i) has complied with and has not contravened the
conditions of the licence; and
(ii) does not have a relevant conviction.
(5) Where the Chief Inspector renews a licence he or she may issue a
new licence document or endorse the previously issued licence
accordingly.
24 Variation of licence
(1) A licensee may apply to the Chief Inspector to vary his or her
licence.
(2) An application under subsection (1) shall be:
(a) in the approved form;
(b) accompanied by the approved fee; and
(c) accompanied by such proof or consent, if any, as the Chief
Inspector requires in relation to the variation.
(3) A licensee may apply for a variation of his or her licence, including
a variation of:
(a) the conditions subject to which the licence was granted; and
(b) the plans or specifications of the establishment to which the
licence relates.
(4) The Chief Inspector may, on application under subsection (1), vary
the licence in such manner and on such conditions as he or she
thinks fit and specifies on the licence.
Part 3 Licences
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 18
(5) A condition of a game meat slaughter licence, pet meat slaughter
licence or bait meat licence in relation to the area in which the
licensee may slaughter an animal shall be deemed to be varied if:
(a) slaughter of animals under the licence in another area of land
is permitted by the owner of the other area of land; and
(b) the licensee notifies the Chief Inspector within 7 days after
commencing the slaughter of animals in the other area.
25 Amendment and revocation of condition of licence
(1) The Chief Inspector may, from time to time, by written notice to a
licensee, amend or revoke a condition of the licence or include a
new condition on the licence.
(2) Where a licensee receives written notice under subsection (1) and
the Chief Inspector requests the return of the licence, the licensee
shall return the licence to the Chief Inspector as soon as
practicable.
(3) Where a licence is returned under subsection (2) the Chief
Inspector may issue a substitute licence document containing new
or amended conditions or mark the new or amended conditions on
the licence returned.
26 Transfer of licence
(1) Subject to this section:
(a) a licensee;
(b) where a licensee is no longer entitled to possession of the
establishment to which the licence relates – the person
entitled to possession; or
(c) the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased
licensee,
may apply to the Chief Inspector to transfer the licence to another
person.
(2) A game meat slaughter licence, pet meat slaughter licence or bait
meat licence is not transferable.
(3) An application under subsection (1) shall be:
(a) in the approved form; and
Part 3 Licences
Division 4 Renewal, &c., of licences
Meat Industries Act 1996 19
(b) accompanied by:
(i) proof that the person to whom the licence is to be
transferred agrees to the proposed transfer; and
(ii) the approved fee.
(4) The Chief Inspector may, in relation to:
(a) the person to whom the applicant proposes to transfer the
licence – exercise his or her powers under section 18; and
(b) a manager, if any, nominated by the applicant – exercise his
or her powers under section 29,
as if the application to transfer were an application under
section 13.
(5) The Chief Inspector may, by notice in writing to the applicant,
approve or refuse to approve the transfer of a licence.
(6) A transfer of a licence takes effect from the date the Chief Inspector
approves the transfer or such later date as the Chief Inspector
specifies in the approval.
27 Cancellation and suspension of licence, &c.
(1) The Chief Inspector may, by notice in writing to a licensee, suspend
for a period or cancel the licence where:
(a) the licensee or his or her employee or agent:
(i) contravenes or fails to comply with a condition of the
licence;
(ii) has a relevant conviction; or
(iii) provides information to an inspector in an application
under this Act, that was false or misleading in a material
particular; or
(b) the establishment to which the licence relates:
(i) is significantly altered without the approval of an
inspector;
(ii) is not maintained, repaired or altered as required by or
under this Act; or
(iii) is used for a purpose that is not permitted by or under
this Act.
Part 4 Managers and supervision of operations under licence
Meat Industries Act 1996 20
(2) The Chief Inspector may suspend a licence until a fault in the
construction or operation of the establishment to which the notice of
suspension relates is rectified.
(3) An inspector may, by oral instruction to the licensee or another
person apparently in charge of the operation, suspend the licence
for a period not exceeding 24 hours where an establishment
operated under the licence:
(a) is significantly altered without the approval of an inspector;
(b) is not maintained, repaired or altered as required by or under
this Act;
(c) is not maintained or operated in accordance with the hygiene
requirements prescribed or in accordance with the quality
assurance program, if any, approved in respect of the licence;
or
(d) is used for a purpose not permitted by or under this Act.
28 Surrender of licence
A licensee may surrender the licence by lodging it with the Chief
Inspector.
Part 4 Managers and supervision of operations under
licence
29 Nomination of manager in application
(1) Where an application is made under section 13 by:
(a) a corporation; or
(b) a natural person who does not intend to carry out the day to
day management of operations under the licence,
the applicant shall nominate a natural person to be the manager.
(2) The Chief Inspector may, within 90 days after receiving a
nomination, conduct, or cause to be conducted, such investigations
as he or she thinks fit to determine whether a person nominated
under subsection (1):
(a) is a fit and proper person; or
(b) has a relevant conviction.
Part 4 Managers and supervision of operations under licence
Meat Industries Act 1996 21
(3) The Chief Inspector may, where he or she is of the opinion that the
person nominated under subsection (1):
(a) is a fit and proper person and has no relevant convictions –
approve the nomination and provide written notice of the
approval to the applicant; or
(b) is not a fit and proper person or has a relevant conviction –
refuse to approve the nomination and provide written notice of
the decision to the applicant.
(4) Where the Chief Inspector refuses to approve a nomination under
subsection (3)(b), the applicant shall nominate another person to be
manager, and this section shall apply as if the person were a
person nominated under subsection (1).
30 Nomination of manager after grant of licence
(1) Where:
(a) a person ceases to be a manager – the licensee, within
14 days; or
(b) the licensee wishes to nominate a manager – the licensee,
may nominate to the Chief Inspector a person to be the manager in
respect of the licence.
(2) Where a person has been nominated under subsection (1), the
Chief Inspector may, not later than 90 days after receiving the
nomination, conduct or cause to be conducted such investigations
as he or she thinks fit to determine whether the person is a fit and
proper person and has no relevant convictions.
(3) The Chief Inspector may, where he or she is of the opinion that the
person nominated to be manager under subsection (1):
(a) is a fit and proper person and has no relevant convictions –
approve the nomination and provide written notice of the
approval to the licensee; or
(b) is not a fit and proper person or has a relevant conviction –
refuse to approve the nomination and provide written notice to
the licensee accordingly.
Part 5 Offences
Division 1 Slaughter, processing and sale of meat for human consumption
Meat Industries Act 1996 22
31 Supervision of operations under licences
A licensee shall not permit operations to take place at the
establishment to which the licence relates unless the operations are
supervised by:
(a) the licensee; or
(b) the manager.
32 Where manager, &c. ceases to be fit and proper person, &c.
Where the Chief Inspector is of the opinion, on reasonable grounds,
that a person has ceased to be a fit and proper person or has a
relevant conviction, the Chief Inspector shall notify, in writing, the
licensee that:
(a) operations under the licence may no longer be carried out
under the supervision of the person; and
(b) another person is required, on and from the date specified in
the notice, to be nominated as a manager in accordance with
section 30.
Part 5 Offences
Division 1 Slaughter, processing and sale of meat for human
consumption
33 Sale of meat for human consumption
A person shall not sell meat for human consumption:
(a) except under a licence, or a licence or other instrument under
a corresponding law, permitting the sale of the meat;
(b) unless he or she is a retailer or wholesaler and the meat was
obtained from the holder of a licence, or the holder of a licence
or other instrument under a corresponding law, permitting the
sale of the meat; or
(c) unless he or she is a retailer or wholesaler and the meat was
obtained from a retailer or the holder of a licence and was sold
for immediate consumption in a cooked or marinated state.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
Part 5 Offences
Division 1 Slaughter, processing and sale of meat for human consumption
Meat Industries Act 1996 23
34 Slaughter and processing of meat for human consumption
(1) A person shall not:
(a) slaughter an animal; or
(b) dress the body of an animal,
for its sale as meat for human consumption except in accordance
with this Act.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A person shall not process meat for human consumption that is to
be sold:
(a) except under a licence;
(b) unless the person is a retailer and the meat is obtained from
the holder of a licence, or the holder of a licence or other
instrument under a corresponding law, permitting the sale of
such meat and the meat is processed at a shop or at a
residence used for commercial meat processing; or
(c) unless he or she obtained the meat from a retailer or the
holder of a licence and the meat was sold for immediate
consumption in a cooked or marinated state.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) A person shall not slaughter an animal for game meat except with
the written authority of the person on whose land the animal is
slaughtered.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), residence used for
commercial meat processing means a residence where:
(a) meat is processed only by the residents in the residence;
(b) the floor area used for processing, whether temporarily or
permanently, does not exceed 30 square metres;
(c) no advertising sign is displayed other than one that is not
more than 0.3 square metres in size that identifies the name
and occupation of the processor;
(d) meat or meat products are not displayed in a window or about
the residence and its site; and
Part 5 Offences
Division 2 Pet meat
Meat Industries Act 1996 24
(e) no more than one goods vehicle, within the meaning of the
Motor Vehicles Act 1949, is at any one time present on the
land on which the residence is situated.
35 Presumption as to whether meat intended for human
consumption
It is conclusive evidence that meat or a meat product was intended
for human consumption if:
(a) the meat is not dyed blue or green; or
(b) the meat is not labelled, or is not otherwise identified, as not fit
for human consumption.
Division 2 Pet meat
36 Sale of pet meat
(1) A person shall not sell pet meat except:
(a) under a licence, or a licence or other instrument granted under
a corresponding law, that permits the sale of pet meat; or
(b) if he or she is a retailer or wholesaler of pet meat and has
purchased the pet meat from the holder of a licence, or a
licence or other instrument granted under a corresponding
law, that permits the processing of meat for human
consumption or pet meat.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), a person shall not sell pet meat unless it
is:
(a) dyed blue in the prescribed manner;
(b) labelled in the prescribed manner; and
(c) to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector, kept separate from
meat for human consumption.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) A person may apply in writing to the Chief Inspector for an
exemption from subsection (2)(a).
(4) The Chief Inspector may, by written notice, exempt a person from
subsection (2)(a) on such conditions as the Chief Inspector thinks fit
and specifies in the notice.
Part 5 Offences
Division 2 Pet meat
Meat Industries Act 1996 25
37 Slaughter and processing of pet meat
(1) A person shall not slaughter an animal for pet meat unless:
(a) he or she does so under a licence permitting the slaughter of
such an animal for pet meat; or
(b) the body, meat or meat product derived from the animal is not
intended for sale.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A person shall not process pet meat for sale except at an
establishment operated under a licence permitting the processing of
pet meat for sale, but may, at a retail outlet, process meat suitable
for human consumption for sale as pet meat.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) A person shall not slaughter an animal for pet meat except with the
written authority of the owner, if any, of the animal.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
38 Purchase of pet meat
A person shall not purchase pet meat unless:
(a) he or she is the holder of a licence permitting the processing
of pet meat and the pet meat is:
(i) purchased under the licence from a person who is the
holder of a licence, or the holder of a licence or other
instrument under a corresponding law, permitting the
sale of pet meat; and
(ii) dyed blue as prescribed, unless the licensee from whom
the meat is purchased is exempted from this
requirement under section 36(4) and the person
purchasing the pet meat has sighted the certificate of
exemption;
(b) he or she (the vendor) is a retailer of pet meat and sells pet
meat to a person other than for resale by that person, or is a
wholesaler of meat, and the pet meat:
(i) is purchased by the vendor from the holder of a licence,
or a licence or other instrument granted under a
corresponding law, permitting the sale of pet meat; and
Part 5 Offences
Division 2A Bait meat
Meat Industries Act 1996 26
(ii) is dyed blue as prescribed, unless the licensee from
whom the meat is purchased is exempted from this
requirement under section 36(4) and the vendor has
sighted the certificate of exemption;
(c) it is not purchased for the purpose of resale; or
(d) it is not resold.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
39 Transport of pet meat
A person shall not transport pet meat for sale unless the meat:
(a) is accompanied by an approved certificate;
(b) is derived from an animal that has been slaughtered under a
licence, or a licence or other instrument under a
corresponding law; and
(c) is kept under conditions which ensure it does not deteriorate
during transportation.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
Division 2A Bait meat
40A Sale of bait meat
(1) A person must not sell bait meat unless:
(a) he or she is selling bait meat under a licence, or a licence or
other instrument granted under a corresponding law, that
permits the sale of meat for human consumption, pet meat or
bait meat; or
(b) he or she is selling bait meat that he or she received from the
holder of a licence, or a licence or other instrument granted
under a corresponding law, that permits the processing of
meat for human consumption, pet meat or bait meat.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A person must not sell bait meat unless it is:
(a) dyed green in the prescribed manner;
(b) labelled in the prescribed manner, if any; and
Part 5 Offences
Division 3 Disease and contamination
Meat Industries Act 1996 27
(c) kept separate from meat for human consumption and pet meat
in an approved manner.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
40B Slaughter and processing of bait meat
(1) A person must not slaughter an animal for bait meat unless:
(a) he or she does so under a licence permitting the slaughter of
the animal for bait meat; or
(b) the body, meat or meat product derived from the animal is not
intended for sale.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A person must not slaughter an animal for bait meat except with the
written authority of the owner, if any, of the animal.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(3) A person must not process bait meat for sale except under a
licence permitting the processing of meat for sale.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
40C Transport of bait meat
A person must not transport bait meat for sale unless the meat is
derived from an animal that has been slaughtered under a licence
or a licence or other instrument under a corresponding law.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
Division 3 Disease and contamination
40 Slaughter of diseased or contaminated animals
(1) A person shall not slaughter for sale an animal that he or she
knows, or ought reasonably be expected to know, is in a condition,
whether because of disease or contamination, including by
chemical residues, that its meat is likely to be:
(a) unfit for human consumption;
(b) where it is slaughtered under a licence permitting slaughter for
pet meat – unfit for pet meat; or
Part 5 Offences
Division 3 Disease and contamination
Meat Industries Act 1996 28
(c) if it is slaughtered under a licence permitting slaughter for bait
meat – unfit for bait meat,
except in accordance with this Act.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) Where an inspector is of the opinion that an animal at an
establishment is in such a condition that its meat is likely to be, on
health grounds, unfit for human consumption, he or she may:
(a) direct the licensee or the manager to remove the animal to a
specified place; or
(b) where satisfied that the animal may be destroyed at the
establishment without danger to public health and without
affecting the wholesomeness of meat at the establishment,
direct the licensee to destroy and dispose of the carcass or
part of the destroyed animal in accordance with the inspector's
directions.
41 Birdsville Horse Disease
(1) A person shall not slaughter a horse, donkey, mule or hinny for
human consumption if it exhibits signs of being affected by
Birdsville Horse Disease.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
(2) A person shall not slaughter a horse, donkey, mule or hinny for pet
food if he or she knows, or has reason to suspect, it has been in an
area in which Birdsville Horse Disease occurs.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
42 Persons with disease
(1) A person who has reason to believe that he or she is infected with,
or affected by, a prescribed disease, shall not enter, or remain at,
an establishment from which meat for human consumption is
dispatched.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
Part 5 Offences
Division 4 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 29
(2) A holder of a licence permitting the dispatch of meat for human
consumption who has reason to believe that a person is infected
with, or affected by, a prescribed disease, shall not permit the
person to enter, or remain at, the establishment operated under the
licence.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
Division 4 Miscellaneous
43 Inspector not to receive gifts of meat
(1) An inspector shall not receive meat from a person who holds a
licence or who is applying for a licence, unless the inspector:
(a) has paid the retail price for the meat or the price at which the
meat is usually sold to employees of the person; and
(b) is issued with a receipt indicating the amount, type and price
of the meat sold to him or her.
Maximum penalty: 170 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the meat is received as part of
a meal for immediate consumption by the inspector.
44 Person not to alter, &c., establishment
A person shall not alter, repair or modify an establishment to which
a licence relates or equipment at such an establishment, if to do so
would, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, significantly alter the
establishment or equipment, except under:
(a) the licence; or
(b) the directions of an inspector who is not a member of the
Police Force.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
45 Copying or use of stamp
(1) The Chief Inspector may, by notice in writing, authorise a stamp for
use by a person for the purposes of this Act.
(2) A person shall not, without the authority of the Chief Inspector:
(a) manufacture, possess, apply, alter, copy or remove; or
(b) manufacture or possess a device for stamping,
Part 5 Offences
Division 4 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 30
a stamp authorised by the Chief Inspector or for use by another
person who is the holder of a licence.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) A person shall not manufacture, possess or apply a stamp that is
not authorised by the Chief Inspector but resembles, or is
apparently intended to resemble or pass for, such a stamp.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
46 Falsely identifying meat
(1) A person shall not sell meat for human consumption, pet meat or
bait meat with intent to deceive the buyer as to the true identity of
the meat.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A person shall not incorrectly label meat for human consumption,
pet meat or bait meat that is intended for sale.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
47 Restrictions on slaughter
(1) In this section, withholding period means the period, if any,
specified by the manufacturer of a chemical for use in animals as
the period during which the residue of the chemical in the animal
will be, or is likely to be, above the approved standard, for a residue
of that chemical, published under section 7A of the Agricultural and
Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1994 of the
Commonwealth.
(2) A person:
(a) who has administered a chemical to an animal; or
(b) to whom a written notice under this subsection is given as a
purchaser of such an animal,
shall not consign the animal for slaughter, or for sale for slaughter,
before the expiration of the withholding period in respect of the
chemical unless the purchaser is provided with written notice:
(c) of the chemical administered;
(d) that the withholding period for the chemical administered has
not expired; and
Part 5 Offences
Division 4 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 31
(e) of the date on which the withholding period will expire.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not sell, or slaughter, for
human consumption an animal that he or she knows, or ought
reasonably be expected to know, contains, before slaughter,
shotgun pellets, bullets or bullet fragments or which contains other
material which make it unsuitable for human consumption.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
48 Disposal of condemned meat
(1) A person having possession of meat condemned as unfit for human
consumption or unfit for pet meat shall:
(a) process it into by-products; or
(b) dispose of it in accordance with this Act or the directions of an
inspector.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(2) A person shall not sell as fit for human consumption a body,
carcass, meat or other product derived from an animal, where the
body, carcass, meat or other product:
(a) has been condemned by an inspector as unfit for human
consumption;
(b) is not fit for human consumption under the quality assurance
program, if any, approved in respect of the licence under
which the body, carcass, meat or other product was
processed; or
(c) is not fit for human consumption.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(3) A person shall not sell as pet meat a product derived from an
animal, where the product:
(a) has been condemned by an inspector as unfit for pet food;
(b) is not fit for consumption by pets under the quality assurance
program, if any, approved in respect of the licence under
which the body, carcass, meat, pet meat or other product was
processed; or
Part 5 Offences
Division 4 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 32
(c) is not fit for consumption by pets.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
49 Evidence of possession for sale
The holder of a licence is deemed to have knowledge of the
presence of meat, pet meat or bait meat:
(a) at the establishment to which the licence relates or at another
building or structure related to or being used for the purposes
of the licence; or
(b) in a vessel, or vehicle, belonging to the licensee,
and to have possession for sale of the meat.
50 Refrigeration of meat, or storage of refrigerated meat, for sale
A person shall not refrigerate meat for sale or store refrigerated
meat for sale, except if he or she does so:
(a) at a shop or for or on behalf of a retailer;
(b) under a licence permitting the refrigeration or storage of
refrigerated meat; or
(c) at premises registered under the Export Control Act 1982 of
the Commonwealth.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
51 Hindering inspectors, &c.
(1) A person shall not:
(a) hinder, obstruct or assault an inspector exercising the
inspector's powers or performing the inspector's functions
under this Act;
(b) use threatening language or behave in a threatening manner
towards an inspector exercising a power or performing a
function under this Act or a person assisting the inspector to
do so;
(c) fail to comply with a lawful direction of an inspector given
under this Act;
(d) provide to an inspector information which is false or
misleading in a material particular;
Part 5 Offences
Division 4 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 33
(e) when required by an inspector to do so, refuse or fail to
produce to the inspector a record that the person is required
by or under this Act to keep;
(f) when required by an inspector to do so, refuse or fail to
produce a body, carcass, meat, pet meat, offal not fit for
human consumption, skin, hide or feathers, being an object
that the person is required to produce by or under this Act; or
(g) impersonate or falsely claim to be an inspector or a person
assisting an inspector.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person who refuses to allow
an inspector or a person lawfully assisting an inspector to exercise
a power conferred or perform a function imposed on an inspector
by or under this Act shall be deemed to be obstructing the inspector
or person.
52 Movement of stock from establishment
A person shall not move from an establishment an animal permitted
to be slaughtered at the establishment except with an inspector's
permission.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
53 Transportation of meat
(1) A person shall not transport meat for human consumption for sale:
(a) to or from an establishment to which a licence relates; or
(b) in the case of a game animal – to or from an establishment to
which a licence relates, or from the place where it is
slaughtered,
unless:
(c) it has been produced under this Act or a corresponding law;
(d) it is stamped, labelled and packed in the prescribed manner, if
any; and
(e) it is transported in accordance with the Regulations.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 1 Powers of inspectors
Meat Industries Act 1996 34
(2) Where an animal was sold to a purchaser and then slaughtered on
the property on or from which it was sold, a person shall not, except
under a licence, transport outside of the property the body or
carcass of the animal or meat derived from the animal.
Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.
54 Failure to notify or lodge report
A person shall not fail to provide to the Chief Inspector or an
inspector, within the time, if any, specified for the form or notice to
be provided, an approved form or a notice that the person is
required to give or lodge by or under this Act.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 1 Powers of inspectors
55 Production of identity card
(1) Where:
(a) an inspector, other than a member of the Police Force, enters
an establishment or land in pursuance of section 56 or 58;
(b) the person apparently in charge of the establishment or land
requests the inspector to produce an identity card; and
(c) the inspector fails to do so,
the inspector shall leave the establishment or land immediately.
(2) The production by an inspector of an identity card or evidence that
the officer is a member of the Police Force shall, until the contrary
is proved, be sufficient authority to do any thing the officer is
authorised to do by or under this Act.
56 Powers of inspector to enter
An inspector may, at any time, for the purposes of this Act, enter
and inspect:
(a) an establishment to which a licence relates;
(b) a place to which an application under section 13 relates; or
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 1 Powers of inspectors
Meat Industries Act 1996 35
(c) land, other than a residence, on which an inspector suspects,
on reasonable grounds, that:
(i) an offence may have been committed, is being
committed, or is intended to be committed, under this
Act; or
(ii) meat was, is being or is intended to be sold or, for the
purpose of sale, dressed (whether or not in accordance
with the Regulations), processed, stored or packed.
57 Other powers of inspectors
(1) An inspector may, at any time:
(a) inspect and take samples of feed or water or an animal which
is to be slaughtered;
(b) inspect and take samples of a body or a carcass, meat or
other product derived from an animal;
(c) direct or cause a person who is, or who the inspector suspects
to be, in charge of an aircraft, vehicle or vessel used for the
transportation of animals, carcasses or meat, to make the
aircraft, vehicle or vessel and its contents available for
inspection by an inspector;
(d) direct the person in charge of an aircraft, vehicle or vessel,
that the inspector suspects was, or is being, used for
transporting animals, carcasses or meat otherwise than in
accordance with this Act, to take the aircraft, vehicle or vessel
to, and remain at, a place specified by the inspector;
(e) require a person to provide his or her name and address
where the inspector believes or suspects the person is
engaged in or has information in respect of a meat industry;
(f) inspect equipment, tools, appliances, cartons, aircraft,
vehicles or vessels used for or in connection with the
slaughter, cutting up, boning, dressing, processing, branding,
storing, packing, transporting, wholesaling or retailing of
carcasses or meat or that the inspector suspects is intended
for such use;
(g) give directions in relation to the slaughter of animals, the
dressing of carcasses, the processing, branding, storing,
packing and transporting of meat and the marking, labelling,
strapping and sealing of a package or carton;
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 1 Powers of inspectors
Meat Industries Act 1996 36
(h) open a package or carton in which an inspector suspects meat
is contained and examine and take samples of meat found in
the package or carton;
(j) confiscate, condemn, destroy or dispose of, or order a person
to confiscate, condemn, destroy or dispose of:
(i) an animal;
(ii) a carcass; or
(iii) meat or offal or other product derived from an animal,
that is, or which the inspector suspects is, defective, diseased,
contaminated or unfit for human consumption or consumption
by pets, and issue an approved certificate in relation to it to a
person apparently having charge of the establishment or place
at which it was located;
(k) by oral instruction to the manager or another person
apparently in charge of the operation, suspend the operation
of an establishment for a period not exceeding 24 hours;
(m) perform an act required to be performed by a licensee that has
not been so performed;
(n) issue approved certificates in relation to pet meat;
(p) seize meat obtained, processed, branded, stored, labelled or
otherwise dealt with in contravention of this Act or that the
inspector suspects has been obtained in contravention of this
Act;
(q) direct that alterations or repairs to an establishment,
machinery, tools or appliances, be performed and completed
within a specified period;
(r) obtain assistance from persons in the exercise of the powers
or the performance of functions of an inspector under this Act;
and
(s) require the driver of a vehicle which the inspector suspects
contains a carcass, an animal's body or meat, to stop the
vehicle to enable the inspector to search it.
(2) Where an inspector incurs an expense in the exercise of a power
under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (m), the amount of the expense may
be recovered from the person in relation to whom the power was
exercised as a debt due and payable by the person to the Territory.
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 2 Liability and procedure
Meat Industries Act 1996 37
58 Power of inspector in relation to persons suffering from
disease
(1) Where an inspector is of the opinion that a person who is at an
establishment from which meat is dispatched is infected with, or
affected by, a disease, the inspector may, by written notice, direct
the person to leave or remain away from the establishment.
(2) Where a person is the subject of a direction under subsection (1),
he or she shall not enter an establishment from which meat is
dispatched unless:
(a) permitted to do so by an inspector; or
(b) where the inspector refuses to permit him or her to enter the
establishment, if:
(i) a medical practitioner or a registered nurse certifies that
the person is in a fit state of health to be at an
establishment; and
(ii) the certificate is forwarded to the licensee by the person
subject to the direction.
(3) In this section:
registered nurse means a person registered under the Health
Practitioner Regulation National Law:
(a) to practise in the nursing profession (other than as a student);
and
(b) in the registered nurses division of that profession.
Division 2 Liability and procedure
59 General offences and penalties
(1) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with this Act or a
direction, restriction, requirement, or condition given, made, or
imposed under this Act is guilty of an offence.
(2) Subject to this Act, a person guilty of an offence against this Act for
which no other penalty is prescribed is, on conviction, liable to a
penalty not exceeding 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years
and, if the offence is a continuing one, to a further penalty not
exceeding 5 penalty units for each day after the first day on which
the offence continues.
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 2 Liability and procedure
Meat Industries Act 1996 38
60 Institution of proceedings
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act shall not be
commenced without the written consent of the Chief Inspector.
(2) The Chief Inspector is an enforcement agency for the purposes of
the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001.
61 Court may suspend or cancel licence
Where the holder of a licence or his or her employee or agent is
convicted of an offence against this Act, the Court may, in addition
to any other penalty it may impose, on the application of the
prosecutor or of its own motion:
(a) suspend for such period as it thinks fit; or
(b) cancel,
the licence.
62 Liability for acts
Where an inspector does an act or makes an omission in good
faith:
(a) in the exercise or purported exercise of a power; or
(b) in the performance or purported performance of a function,
under this Act, no action, claim or demand, either civil or criminal, in
respect of that act or omission lies, or shall be commenced or
allowed, against the Territory, the Chief Inspector or an inspector.
63 Liability of directors, managers and corporations
(1) Where a corporation is convicted of an offence against this Act,
every director and every person concerned in the management of
the corporation shall be guilty of a like offence if it is proved that the
act or omission that constituted the offence took place with the
person's authority, permission, or consent, or that the person knew
the offence was to be or was being committed and failed to take all
reasonable steps to prevent or stop it.
(2) Where an employee or agent of a licensee is convicted of an
offence against this Act in respect of operations in relation to a
licence the licensee shall be guilty of a like offence.
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 2 Liability and procedure
Meat Industries Act 1996 39
(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence by the licensee that is
referred to in subsection (2) if the licensee establishes that he or
she took all reasonable precautions to prevent the commission of
the offence by the other person.
64 Averments and evidence
(1) In a prosecution for an offence against this Act an averment:
(a) as to a matter specified in subsection (2);
(b) made by written notice and certified by the Chief Inspector;
and
(c) served on the defendant or the defendant's agent or legal
practitioner not less than 7 days before the hearing at which
the averment is to be tendered,
shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence
of the matter averred.
(2) An averment may be made under this section only in relation to the
following:
(a) that meat or offal was unfit for human consumption or for pet
food;
(b) that meat or offal originated from a particular species;
(c) that meat, offal or animals could not have been handled in
accordance with the Regulations or a standard or code of
practice approved in respect of the licence under which the
meat, offal or animal was handled or purportedly handled;
(d) that a person or thing was at a stated place, or within a stated
area, at a stated time, or at the time of the taking of a stated
action or the occurrence of a stated event;
(e) the presence of chemicals or drugs in meat or in cartons or
receptacles found at an establishment;
(f) an entry in a register;
(g) that meat or offal not fit for human consumption was infected
by or affected by, a particular disease or contaminant
(including a micro-organism);
(h) the identity of a product made from or containing meat or offal
not fit for human consumption;
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 2 Liability and procedure
Meat Industries Act 1996 40
(j) that:
(i) a specified person was or was not, at a specified time, a
licensee; or
(ii) a specified establishment was or was not, at a specified
time, the subject of a licence of a specified type.
(3) The Court shall take judicial notice of the official signature of a
person who holds or has held the office of Chief Inspector and a
certificate under subsection (1) purporting to be signed by the Chief
Inspector shall be prima facie evidence of that fact without proof of
the signature of the person appearing to have signed it.
(4) The Court may, if the amendments can be made without hardship
or injustice to the defendant, allow at the hearing of proceedings
such amendments to be made to an averment under this section as
appear to it to be desirable or to be necessary to enable the real
question in dispute to be determined.
65 Evidence of sale or slaughter
(1) Evidence that meat was under the control of a person in or in the
vicinity of an establishment to which a licence relates is prima facie
evidence that the person slaughtered the animal from which the
meat is derived.
(2) Evidence that meat was on display in a shop is prima facie
evidence that it was offered for sale.
66 Seizure and forfeiture
(1) An inspector may seize meat that the inspector believes on
reasonable grounds:
(a) to have originated from an animal slaughtered; or
(b) to have been sold, or that is intended to be sold,
in contravention of this Act or meat into which such meat is
intermixed.
(2) Meat seized in pursuance of subsection (1):
(a) shall be delivered into the custody of the Chief Inspector or to
a person authorised by the Chief Inspector for that purpose
(an authorised person); or
Part 6 Control and enforcement
Division 2 Liability and procedure
Meat Industries Act 1996 41
(b) may, on application by:
(i) the person from whom the meat was seized; or
(ii) where that person is not the owner, by the owner,
be released to him or her under such sureties and conditions,
including the entering into of a bond or other financial security
to secure the payment of money, as the Chief Inspector
specifies.
(3) Where, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, meat may rot, spoil, or
otherwise perish, the Chief Inspector may arrange for its sale or
otherwise dispose of it as he or she thinks fit.
(4) Where, after reasonable enquiry at the time of seizure and within
90 days after that, the ownership of meat cannot be established,
the meat seized shall be forfeited to the Territory and may be
disposed of as directed by the Chief Inspector after that time.
(5) All meat seized in pursuance of subsection (1) and the proceeds, if
any, from the sale of meat pursuant to subsection (3) (except where
the meat has been released in pursuance of subsection (3) or the
meat or proceeds have been forfeited to the Territory under
subsection (4)), shall be held in the custody of the Chief Inspector
or an authorised person until:
(a) a decision is made not to lay a complaint or charge in respect
of the alleged offence for which the meat was seized; or
(b) where a complaint or charge is laid, upon the completion of
proceedings in respect of the alleged offence for which the
meat was seized, or such sooner time as the Court may
determine.
(6) The decision whether or not to lay a complaint or charge in respect
of an alleged offence in relation to which meat is seized under
subsection (1) shall be made before 90 days after the day on which
the meat is seized.
(7) Where meat has been seized under subsection (1) then:
(a) on a decision being made not to lay a complaint or charge; or
(b) on the acquittal of a person charged with an offence,
the meat (if not disposed of), or the proceeds from the sale of the
meat, shall forthwith be released from the custody of the Chief
Inspector or authorised person to the person from whom it was
seized or to the owner of the meat.
Part 8 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 42
(8) Where a person is convicted of an offence against this Act:
(a) the Court may, in addition to any other penalty which it may
impose, on the application of the prosecutor, order that the
meat in respect of which the conviction was imposed be
forfeited to the Territory and disposed of as the Chief
Inspector thinks fit; and
(b) the person shall be liable to pay to the Territory the
reasonable costs of handling, securing, maintaining, and
storing meat seized under subsection (1) as the Court thinks
fit.
(9) For the purposes of this section, meat includes the body of an
animal, a carcass, meat and meat products.
Part 7 Review of decisions
67 Review by NTCAT
(1) NTCAT has jurisdiction to review a decision (a reviewable
decision) of the Chief Inspector specified in Schedule 2.
(2) An affected person, for a reviewable decision, is a person
specified in Schedule 2 for the reviewable decision.
(3) An affected person for a reviewable decision may apply to NTCAT
for review of the decision.
Note for section 67
The Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 sets out the
procedure for applying to NTCAT for review and other relevant matters in relation
to reviews.
Part 8 Miscellaneous
70 Replacement licence
Where a licence is lost or destroyed, its holder may apply to the
Chief Inspector on the approved form, accompanied by:
(a) a statutory declaration declaring that the licence has been lost
or destroyed; and
(b) the approved fee,
for the issue of a replacement licence and the Chief Inspector may
issue a replacement licence to the holder.
Part 8 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 43
71 Notices
Unless otherwise specified in this Act, a notice under this Act:
(a) may be served in person or by post or by electronic means;
and
(b) takes effect from the date of service or the date after the date
of service specified in the notice.
72 Minister may declare or amend standards, &c.
(1) The Minister may, in writing, declare:
(a) a standard or code of practice; or
(b) an amendment to, or a standard or code in substitution for, a
standard or code of practice declared under this section,
for the purpose of this Act.
(2) A declaration under subsection (1) is only effective from the date on
which a notice of the making of the declaration is published in the
Gazette or a later date, if any, specified in the notice.
(3) The Chief Inspector shall retain for inspection by members of the
public copies of all standards or codes of practice declared under
subsection (1).
73 Acquisition to be on just terms
Where the application of this Act would, but for this section, result in
an acquisition of property otherwise than on just terms, the person
from whom the property is acquired shall be entitled to receive just
compensation for the acquisition and a court of competent
jurisdiction may determine the amount of the compensation or
make such order as, in its opinion, is necessary to ensure that the
acquisition is on just terms.
74 Regulations
(1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this
Act, prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or
giving effect to this Act.
Part 8 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 44
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations
may make provision for or in relation to:
(a) the standards for the location, construction and equipment
(including refrigeration equipment) of an establishment;
(b) the cleansing and disinfecting of establishments and
equipment and utensils used in establishments or during
game meat, pet meat or bait meat operations and in such
establishments or during such operations and the removal
and/or disposal of blood, offal or waste products from
establishments;
(c) the quality and supply of water to establishments;
(d) the manner in which animals are to be slaughtered, the bodies
of animals are to be dressed and meat is to be processed;
(e) the inspection of animals or of the carcasses, offal or meat of
animals;
(f) the seizure, destruction or disposal of animals, carcasses,
meat or other products produced or dealt with in contravention
of this Act;
(g) the treatment and sustenance of animals held at an
establishment before slaughter and the storage and use of
drugs and chemicals in the treatment of them before, during or
after slaughter;
(h) the manner in which meat is to be packed, refrigerated and
stored at an establishment, including the temperature at which
rooms in establishments are to be maintained;
(j) the prohibition of the slaughtering of animals at establishments
or generally and the regulation or prohibition of the processing
or dressing of animals not slaughtered at an establishment;
(k) the making or application of tests for the detection of disease
in animals intended to be slaughtered, for species
determination of meat or for the presence of micro-organisms,
drugs or chemicals;
(m) the standards to be complied with in relation to vehicles used
to transport meat and the refrigeration units in vehicles used to
transport meat, the maintenance and cleaning of such
vehicles or units and the manner of transporting meat in such
vehicles;
Part 8 Miscellaneous
Meat Industries Act 1996 45
(n) the grading, branding or certification of meat in respect of its
quality, the manner in which the carcasses, meat and edible
offal of animals shall be marked, labelled or packed and the
storage, branding, marking and labelling of chemical
containers, disposable cartons, cartons or individual packs
which contain such meat and the dye to be used to identify
meat;
(p) the persons engaged at establishments or permitted to enter
establishments, the type of clothing to be worn by such people
and conditions relating to the laundering and use of such
clothing, the health requirements for such workers and the
amenities that are to be provided for staff and inspectors;
(q) the conditions to which a licence shall be subject;
(r) the treatment, sale and other disposal of the by-products of
slaughtering and the preservation of carcasses, skins, hides
and feathers of animals slaughtered under a licence, until
approval is obtained to dispose of them;
(s) the offences that are regulatory offences;
(t) the prohibition or regulation of the keeping of animals at or
near establishments, the treatment to which offal is to be
subjected before being fed to animals and the control of
vermin;
(w) the circumstances in which notice of intention to commence
slaughtering under a licence is required;
(y) the specifying of microbiological standards, standards of
physical contamination or standards for chemical residues;
(z) the imposition of penalties not exceeding:
(i) a fine of 40 penalty units for an offence against the
Regulations; and
(ii) an additional fine of 4 penalty units for each day during
which the offence continues;
(za) the payment of a prescribed amount in lieu of a penalty that
may otherwise be imposed for an offence against this Act; and
(zb) the service of notices on persons alleged to have infringed this
Act and particulars to be included in such notices.
Part 9 Repeal and savings
Meat Industries Act 1996 46
(3) Regulations made under this section may require that a matter or
thing prescribed by the Regulations shall be carried out or done, in
any case, to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector or an approved
inspector.
Part 9 Repeal and savings
75 Repeal
The Acts listed in Schedule 1 are repealed.
76 Transitional
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, where, immediately
before the commencement of this Act, a person held a licence (a
former licence) under the former Abattoirs and Slaughtering
Act 1973:
(a) the Chief Inspector shall, as soon as practicable after the
commencement of this Act, grant to the holder of the former
licence a licence under this Act of the type which is, in the
Chief Inspector's opinion, the type of licence that most closely
approximates the former licence;
(b) the person shall not be held to be in breach of this Act by
reason only that he or she does not, after the commencement
of this Act but before the grant to him or her of a licence in
accordance with paragraph (a), hold a licence under this Act;
and
(c) the establishment to which the licence relates shall be
deemed to be an establishment constructed under this Act
and section 16(2) and the provisions of this Act relating to the
specifications for, modification, alteration or construction of
establishments, do not apply to the establishment:
(i) where it is to be used for the purposes of a domestic
poultry abattoir licence or an export poultry abattoir
licence – until a date specified by the Chief Inspector by
notice in the Gazette; or
(ii) in any other case – until 1 January 1997.
(2) Where, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a
person held a licence under the former Pet Meat Act 1982 the
licence is deemed to be a pet meat licence issued under this Act.
(3) A person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act,
was an Inspector of Abattoirs appointed under section 6 of the
Part 10 Transitional matters for Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
Meat Industries Act 1996 47
Abattoirs and Slaughtering Act 1973 or an Inspector of Pet Meat
appointed under section 9(1) of the Pet Meat Act, is deemed to be
an inspector under section 9(1).
(4) An identity card issued to a person under the former Abattoirs and
Slaughtering Act 1973 or the former Pet Meat Act 1982 shall be
deemed to be an identity card issued under this Act.
Part 10 Transitional matters for Statute Law
Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction)
Act 2023
77 Definitions
In this Part:
amending Act means the Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT
Conferral of Jurisdiction) Act 2023.
commencement means the commencement of Part 10 of the
amending Act.
former Act means this Act as in force immediately before the
commencement.
78 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement
Part 7, as inserted by section 89 of the amending Act, applies only
in relation to a reviewable decision that is made after the
commencement.
79 Appeals not commenced before commencement
(1) This section applies to a person if, immediately before the
commencement, the person:
(a) was entitled to appeal to the Local Court against a decision of
the Chief Inspector under Part 7 of the former Act; and
(b) had not yet commenced an appeal against the decision.
(2) The person may appeal to the Local Court against the decision in
accordance with Part 7 of the former Act, as if Part 10 of the
amending Act had not commenced.
(3) The Local Court must hear and determine the person's appeal in
accordance with Part 7 of the former Act, as if Part 10 of the
amending Act had not commenced.
Part 10 Transitional matters for Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
Meat Industries Act 1996 48
80 Appeals not determined before commencement
(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an appeal to the Local Court
that:
(a) was commenced by a person under Part 7 of the former Act;
and
(b) had not been finally determined by the Local Court before the
commencement.
(2) The Local Court must continue to hear and determine the person's
appeal in accordance with Part 7 of the former Act, as if Part 10 of
the amending Act had not commenced.
Schedule 1 Acts repealed
Meat Industries Act 1996 49
Schedule 1 Acts repealed
section 75
Number and year Short title
No. 46, 1973 Abattoirs and Slaughtering Ordinance 1973
No. 88, 1974 Abattoirs and Slaughtering Ordinance 1974
No. 104, 1981 Abattoirs and Slaughtering Amendment Act 1981
No. 10, 1990 Abattoirs and Slaughtering Amendment Act 1990
No. 51, 1995 Abattoirs and Slaughtering Amendment Act 1995
No. 30, 1984 Meat Industry Act 1984
No. 11, 1982 Pet Meat Act 1982
No. 4, 1990 Pet Meat Amendment Act 1990
Schedule 2 Reviewable decisions
Meat Industries Act 1996 50
Schedule 2 Reviewable decisions
section 67
Item Reviewable decision Affected person
1 A decision under section 19 to refuse to
grant a licence
The applicant for the
licence
2 A decision under sections 19 and 20(b) to
grant a licence subject to conditions
specified by the Chief Inspector
The applicant for the
licence
3 A decision under section 23 to refuse to
renew a licence
The applicant for the
renewal
4 A decision under section 24(4) to refuse to
vary a licence
The licensee
5 A decision under section 24(4) to vary a
licence on conditions specified by the Chief
Inspector
The licensee
6 A decision under section 25(1) to amend or
revoke a condition of a licence, or to include
a new condition on a licence
The licensee
7 A decision under section 26(5) to refuse to
approve a transfer of a licence
The applicant for the
transfer or the person to
whom the applicant
proposes to transfer the
licence
8 A decision under section 27 to suspend or
cancel a licence
The licensee
9 A decision under section 36(4) to refuse to
exempt a person from section 36(2)(a)
The applicant for the
exemption
ENDNOTES
Meat Industries Act 1996 51
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Meat Industries Act 1996 (Act No. 54, 1996)
Assent date 31 October 1996
Commenced 10 December 1997 (Gaz G49, 10 December 1997, p 3)
Statute Law Revision 1999 (Act No. 27, 1999)
Assent date 18 June 1999
Commenced 18 June 1999
Planning (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 (Act No. 56, 1999)
Assent date 14 December 1999
Commenced 12 April 2000 (s 2, s 2 Planning Act 1999 (Act No. 55, 1999)
and Gaz S15, 12 April 2000)
Fines and Penalties (Recovery) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 (Act No. 60,
2001)
Assent date 11 December 2001
Commenced 1 January 2002 (s 2, s 2 Fines and Penalties (Recovery)
Act 2001 (Act No. 59, 2001) and Gaz G50,
19 December 2001, p 3)
Meat Industries Amendment Act 2002 (Act No. 19, 2002)
Assent date 7 June 2002
Commenced 2 September 2002 (Gaz G34, 28 August 2002, p 4)
Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships) Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)
Assent date 7 January 2004
Commenced 17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)
Statute Law Revision Act 2005 (Act No. 44, 2005)
Assent date 14 December 2005
Commenced 14 December 2005
ENDNOTES
Meat Industries Act 1996 52
Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)
Assent date 17 May 2007
Commenced s 10: 1 July 2007; rem: 17 May 2007 (s 2 and Gaz G26,
27 June 2007, p 3)
Livestock Act 2008 (Act No. 36, 2008)
Assent date 8 December 2008
Commenced 1 September 2009 (Gaz G34, 26 August 2009, p 3)
Health Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010 (Act No. 18,
2010)
Assent date 20 May 2010
Commenced 1 July 2010 (s 2)
Penalties Amendment (Children and Families, Health and Primary Industry, Fisheries
and Resources) Act 2011 (Act No. 28, 2011)
Assent date 31 August 2011
Commenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 4)
Health Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 28, 2018)
Assent date 30 November 2018
Commenced 1 December 2018 (s 2)
Environment Protection Act 2019 (Act No. 31, 2019)
Assent date 9 October 2019
Commenced 28 June 2020 (Gaz G17, 29 April 2020, p 2)
Amending Legislation
Statute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2019 (Act No. 33, 2019)
Assent date 6 November 2019
Commenced pts 2 and 3: 11 December 2019 (Gaz G50,
11 December 2019, p 2); rem: 7 November 2019 (s 2)
Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction) Act 2023 (Act No. 24, 2023)
Assent date 21 September 2023
Commenced 27 November 2023 (Gaz G24, 23 November 2023, p 2)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 4, 10, 14, 15, 34 and 60
and sch.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
lt sub No. 19, 2002, s 4
s 3 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
s 4 amd No. 19, 2002, s 5; No. 1, 2004, s 62; No. 36, 2008, s 153
s 10 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 36, 2008, s 153; No. 28, 2011, s 5
s 11 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
s 12 amd No. 19, 2002, s 6
s 13 amd No. 19, 2002, s 7
ENDNOTES
Meat Industries Act 1996 53
s 14 amd No. 56, 1999, s 3
s 15 amd No. 56, 1999, s 3; No. 31, 2019, s 307
s 20 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
s 24 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
s 26 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
ss 33 – 34 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
s 35 sub No. 19, 2002, s 8
ss 36 – 39 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
pt 4
div 2A hdg ins No. 19, 2002, s 9
ss 40A – 40C ins No. 19, 2002, s 9
amd No. 28, 2011, s 5
ss 40 – 42 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
s 43 amd No. 28, 2011, s 5
ss 44 – 48 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
ss 49 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
ss 50 – 54 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
s 58 amd No. 27, 1999, s 15; No. 44, 2005, s 22; No. 18, 2010, s 50; No. 28,
2018, s 25
s 59 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10
s 60 amd No. 60, 2001, s 18
s 64 amd No. 7, 2007, s 16
pt 7 hdg sub No. 24, 2023, s 89
s 67 sub No. 24, 2023, s 89
ss 68 – 69 rep No. 24, 2023, s 89
s 74 amd No. 19, 2002, s 10; No. 28, 2011, s 5
s 75 amd No. 24, 2023, s 90
pt 10 hdg ins No. 24, 2023, s 91
ss 77 – 80 ins No. 24, 2023, s 91
sch hdg amd No. 24, 2023, s 92
sch 2 ins No. 24, 2023, s 93