COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION

1. I, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment: 

(a)          having considered any comments that were given in response to an invitation under section 303FR(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act); and

(b)          being satisfied as to the matters set out in section 303FN of the EPBC Act,

declare that the Countrywide Pet Foods Wildlife Trade Operation to export kangaroo skins derived under the Victorian Pet Food Trial (the operation), is an approved wildlife trade operation for the purposes of section 303FN of the EPBC Act.

2. The operation is only subject to the declaration in paragraph 1:

a)             The wildlife trade operation is valid until 31 March 2017 (i.e. 12 months after the expiry of the Victorian Pet Food Trial);

b)             The wildlife trade operation relates only to the processing of skins from Eastern (Macropus giganteus) and Western (M. fuliginosus) Grey Kangaroos, taken under the Victorian Pet Food Trial;

c)             An annual report must be submitted to Wildlife Trade Assessments, Department of the Environment by 31 March each year. The Annual Report must detail the number of tags issued and returned under each Authority to Control Wildlife permit, the number of skins processed and exported and provide a declaration that all kangaroos have been taken in compliance with the National Code for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes.

d)             The harvest referred to must be carried out in accordance with the wildlife trade operation;

e)             Kangaroo skins acquired before gazettal of the operation are not used for export under this wildlife trade operation.

Dated this 22 day of October 2015

..........................G Hunt............................

Minister for the Environment