Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to Saudi Arabia) Order 2003

Overview

The Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to Saudi Arabia) Order 2003 was introduced to address a specific concern regarding the export of live-stock from Australia to Saudi Arabia. Enacted under section 17 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997, this legislative instrument was made by Jennifer Gordon, a delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The primary objective of this Order is to prohibit the export of Australian live-stock to Saudi Arabia, encompassing not only the direct export but also any assistance or involvement in the importation of such live-stock into Saudi Arabia. This Order revokes the previous Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Live Sheep and Goat Exports to Saudi Arabia) Order 2002, thereby consolidating and updating the regulatory framework to address the identified issue.

Scope and Application

The Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to Saudi Arabia) Order 2003 applies to entities and individuals holding an export licence under the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997, effectively regulating the export of Australian live-stock to Saudi Arabia. The Order was made by Jennifer Gordon, acting as the delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and it revokes the earlier Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Live Sheep and Goat Exports to Saudi Arabia) Order 2002. This legislative instrument imposes a prohibition on the export of Australian live-stock to Saudi Arabia, encompassing not just the direct export but also any actions that facilitate or knowingly contribute to such exports. The scope of the Order is national, extending to all activities within Australia related to the export of live-stock to Saudi Arabia. Any contravention of the Order may have significant legal repercussions for those involved in the export activities of live-stock to the specified country.

Key Provisions

The Australian Meat and Livestock Industry (Export of Livestock to Saudi Arabia) Order 2003 provides specific provisions regarding the export of live livestock from Australia to Saudi Arabia. According to Section 5, the holder of an export licence is prohibited from exporting Australian livestock to Saudi Arabia, which includes any action that would facilitate such an export, such as assisting in or knowingly being involved in the importation of Australian livestock into Saudi Arabia (subsection 5(1) and (2)). The Order also defines key terms such as "export licence" and "Saudi Arabia" for clarity (Section 4). The Act imposes obligations on the holders of export licences, specifically prohibiting them from exporting Australian livestock to Saudi Arabia under any circumstances, including directly or indirectly, and any actions that would knowingly facilitate such exports (Section 5). The Act also revokes the previous Australian Meat and Livestock Industry (Live Sheep and Goat Exports to Saudi Arabia) Order 2002, making this Order the current governing legislation for these exports (Section 3). Breach of the provisions under this Order can result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not outlined in the Order, breaches of the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997, under which this Order is made, can incur significant penalties. For example, individuals and companies found guilty of contravening the Act can face substantial fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. The maximum penalties can vary, but they reflect the seriousness of the offence and the potential impact on the livestock industry and international relations.