Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations (Amendment) (Cth)

Statutory Rules 1918, No. 99.(i)

Definitions.

1. Regulation 3 of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations is amended—

(a)by omitting from the definition of “Disease” the word “stock” and inserting in its stead the words “stock, rabbits, hares or poultry”;

(b) by inserting after the definition of “Disease” the following definition:—

“‘Drawn’ in relation to a carcass of poultry, means that the inedible offal has been removed.”;

(c)by inserting, after the definition of “Edible offal” the following definition :—

“‘Grader’ means any person authorized by and responsible to the Secretary for the grading and packing of poultry, rabbits or hares intended for export.”;

(d)by omitting the definition of “Inspector” and inserting in its stead the following definition:—

“‘Inspector’ means any officer appointed by the Secretary to inspect and pass meat, meat products, or edible offal intended for export.”;

(e)by omitting from the definition of “Meat” the words “or hares” and inserting in their stead the words “hares or poultry”;

(f) by inserting after the definition of “Official stamp or mark” the following definition:—

“‘Poultry’ means all birds intended for human consumption.”; and

(g)by inserting in the definition of “Secretary”, after the word “Commerce”, the words “and Agriculture”.

2. After regulation 39 of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations the following regulation is inserted :—

Special provision in regard to poultry.

“39a.—(1.) Premises shall not be approved as a registered establishment for the killing, dressing and packing of poultry intended for export unless there be provided suitable holding pens for live birds as approved by the Secretary.

(h) Made under Customs Act 1901-1947 and Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905-1933 on 25th February, 1948; notified in Gazette on 26th February, 1948.

(i) Made under Customs Act 1901-1917 and Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905-1933 on 4th August, 1948; notified in Gazette on 9th August, 1948.

(2.) A separate killing and dressing room shall be provided and it shall be constructed of materials similar to those prescribed for killing and dressing rooms in regulation 23 of these Regulations. The height of the room from the floor to the ceiling or wall plate shall he not less than 12 feet.

(3.) A chilling room shall be provided and it shall he constructed in accordance with conditions prescribed for chilling rooms in sub-regulation (1.) of regulation 25 of these Regulations.

(4.) A packing room shall be provided and it shall be constructed of materials similar to those prescribed for killing and dressing rooms in regulation 23 of these Regulations. The height of the room from the floor to the ceiling or wall plate shall be not less than 10 feet.”.

Canned rabbit or poultry for export.

3. Regulation 68 of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations is amended by inserting after the word “rabbit”the words “or poultry”.

Rabbits hares or poultry to be placed in cool store.

4. Regulation 74f of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations is amended by omitting the words “rabbits and hares” and inserting in their stead the words “rabbits, hares or poultry”.

5. After regulation 74f of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations the following regulations are inserted:—

Method of killing poultry.

“74g.—(1.) Poultry intended for export shall be killed only at an establishment registered under these Regulations for such purpose.

(2.) Birds shall be thoroughly bled by a method of external incision at the time of slaughter.

(3.) Birds that have been strangled shall be rejected.

Method of dressing poultry.

“74h.—(1.) Poultry intended for export shall be either dry-plucked, wax plucked or semi-scalded. Birds shall he well dressed, feet shall be well cleaned and vents shall be empty.

(2.) Birds showing evidence of over-scalding shall be rejected.

(3.) Poultry may be drawn or undrawn but in all classes the crop shall be empty or entirely removed.

Quality and weight standard for export poultry.

“74i.—(1.) Poultry intended for export shall be well fleshed and birds showing indications of disease (including scaly legs and obvious deformities) shall be rejected.

(2.) Birds shall be classified in accordance with the grades and weights specified in the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations or in a manner approved by the Secretary.

Method of parking of poultry.

“74j.— (1.) Poultry intended for export shall be thoroughly chilled before being packed.

(2.) Birds shall be packed in clean new cases constructed of well-seasoned soft-wood or hard-wood which has been smoothly sawn or dressed to the satisfaction of the Secretary.

(3.) The cases shall be sufficiently strong, in the opinion of the Secretary, to withstand such handling as is ordinarily incidental to transport to destinations beyond the Commonwealth.

(4.) The cases shall be internally lined with good quality vegetable parchment waxed paper or any other material approved by the Secretary.

(5.) Only birds in the same weight range shall be packed in any one case.

(6.) In a case of fowls and turkeys, male and female birds shall be packed in separate cases,

(7.) Except in the case of turkeys the maximum frozen weight of the contents of each case shall be 60 lb.”.

6. After regulation 85a of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Trade description to be applied to poultry.

“85b.—(J.) In the case of poultry, the trade description shall, in addition to the provisions of regulation 84 of these Regulations, comply with the following provisions:—

(a)the word ‘drawn’ or ‘undrawn’ as the case may be, shall be clearly marked on the outside of each case and be so placed as to be read in conjunction with the name of the class of poultry;

(b)with poultry of second quality, the words ‘second quality’ shall be clearly marked on the outside of each case in letters at least 1½ inches high and be so placed as to be read in conjunction with the name of the class of poultry;

(c) the nett frozen weight of the contents of each case, together with the number of birds contained therein, shall be clearly marked on the outside of each case;

(d)the ‘Approved for Export’ stamp shall be applied by an officer authorized by the Secretary on the outside of the cases, together with a registered number denoting the grader who passed the goods for export.

(2.) The colour of the markings on the cases containing poultry shall be as follows:—

(a)In the case of first quality poultry—blue; and

(b)In the case of second quality poultry—red.”.

Certificates by inspectors.

7. Regulation 93 of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations is amended by inserting after the letter and figure “F.3.”, the letters and figures “F.4., F.5.,”.

Amendment of First Schedule.

8. The First Schedule to the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations is amended by inserting, after Form F.3., the following Forms:—

Form F.4. Regulation 93.

Commonwealth of Australia.

Certificate No.

The Customs Act 1901-1047.

The Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905-1933.

Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations.

Department of Commerce and Agriculture.

POULTRY.

First Quality Certificate.

This IS to certify that the following poultry has been killed and packed at a registered establishment and fully complies with the provisions of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations.

Class of poultry

No. of crates Branded

shipped per SS. to on 19

Dated at in the State of this

day of 19

Examining Officer.

(This form is to be printed on blue paper.)

Form f.5. Regulation 93.

Commonwealth of Australia.

Certificate No.

The Customs Act 1901-1947.

The Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905-1933.

Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations.

Department of Commerce and Agriculture.

POULTRY.

Second Quality Certificate.

This is to certify that the following poultry has been killed and packed at a registered establishment and fully complies with the provisions of the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations.

Class of poultry

No. of crates Branded

shipped per SS. to on 19

Dated at in the State of this

day of 19

Examining Officer.

(This form to be printed on red paper.)

817/49.—41

Fifth Schedule

9. After the Fourth Schedule to the Commerce (Meat Export) Regulations the following Schedule is inserted:—

Regulation 74 I.

THE FIFTH SCHEDULE.

Classification of Frozen Poultry.

Class of Poultry. (Frozen).	Age and Condition.	Grade.	Weight Ranges (undrawn).
Chickens..........................	First quality chickens shall be of normal conformation, and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Only birds which have not reached maturity and which have not been used for breeding purposes shall be included. They should have a soft flexible breastbone and show no hard spur development	First Quality...........	11/2 to 2 lb.; over 2 lb. to 21/2 lb.; over 21/2 lb. to 3 lb.; over 3 lb. to 31/2  lb.; over 31/2 lb. to 4 lb.; over 4 lb. to 4 1/2 lb.; over 41/2 lb. to 5 lb.; over 5 lb.
Boiler Fowls	First quality boiler fowls shall be of normal conformation and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Boiler fowls should not show signs of excessive age, and old male birds (stags) shall not be included	First Quality...........	21/2 lb. to 3 lb.; over 3 lb. to 31/2 lb.; over 31/2 lb. to 4 lb.; over 4 lb. to 41/2 lb.; over 41/2 lb. to 5 lb.; over 5 lb.
Ducklings or Drakelings	First quality ducklings or drakelings shall be of normal conformation and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Only birds which have not reached maturity and have not been used for breeding purposes shall be included, and they shall have a soft flexible breastbone	First Quality...........	3 lb. to 31/2 lb. (for female birds only); over 31/2 lb. to 4 lb.; over 4 lb. to 41/2 lb.; over 41/2 lb. to 5 lb.; over 5 lb. to 6 lb.; over 6 lb. to 7 lb.; over 7 lb. to 8 lb.; over 8 lb.
Goslings..........................	First quality goslings shall be of normal conformation and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Only birds which have not reached maturity and which have not been used for breeding purposes shall be included. They should have a soft flexible breast bone	First Quality...........	8 lb. to 10 lb.; over 10 lb. to 12 lb.; over 12 lb. to14 lb.; over 14 lb.

The Fifth Schedule—continued.

Classification of Frozen Poultry—continued.

Class of Poultry. (Frozen).	Age and Condition.	Grade.	Weight Ranges (undrawn).
Turkeys (Gobblers)	First quality turkeys (gobblers) shall be male birds of normal conformation and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Old or coarse birds shall not be included	First Quality............................	10 lb. to 12 lb.; over 12 lb. to 14 lb. over 14 lb. to 16 lb. ; over 10 lb. to 18 lb.; over 18 lb. to 20 lb. ; over 20 lb.
Turkeys (Gobblers)	Second quality turkeys (gobblers) shall be male birds of normal conformation except for minor deformities of the breast not involving the flesh. They shall be reasonably well fleshed and practically free from tears and pin feathers. Birds may be slightly older than those of first quality but old and coarse birds shall not be included	Second Quality	10 lb. to 12 lb. ; over 12 lb. to 14 lb.; over 14 lb. to 16 lb. ; over 16 lb. to 18 lb.; over I8 lb. to 20 lb.; over 20 lb.
Turkeys (Hens)	First quality turkeys (hens) shall be female birds of normal conformation and fully fleshed. They shall be practically free from pin feathers and free from discoloration and tears on the breast. Old or coarse birds shall not be included	First Quality............................	8 lb. to 10 lb. ; over 10 lb. to 12 lb.; over 12 lb. to 14 lb. ; over 14 lb.
Turkeys (Hens)	Second quality turkeys (hens) shall be female birds of normal conformation except for minor deformities of the breast not involving the flesh. They shall be reasonably well fleshed and practically free from tears and pin feathers. Birds may be slightly older than those of first quality but old and coarse birds shall not be included	Second Quality	8 lb. to 10 lb. ; over 10 lb. to 12 lb. ; over 12 lb. to 14 lb.; over 14 lb.
Others (including drawn)	.......................................................	As approved by the Secretary	As approved by the Secretary”.