Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations

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Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations 1995 No. 204

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Statutory Rules 1995 No. 204

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy

Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1995

Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations

Subsection 226(1) of the Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1995 (the Act) provides that the GovernorGeneral may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

The purpose of the Act is to provide for the establishment of the Meat Industry Council (MIC), its functions, powers, membership and related matters. It is also to clearly define the new relationship between the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation (AMLC), the Meat Research Corporation (MRC), the Meat Industry Council and a meat industry selection committee (which will be activated as necessary), and to confine the roles of AMLC and MRC to program delivery. In general, the Meat Industry Council will be responsible for developing strategic industry policy, which will then provide the framework under which AMLC and MRC will develop their corporate and operational plans.

The Act forms the major component of the Meat and Live-stock Industry Review package, a legislative package which is to establish industry arrangements intended to. give the industry a greater role and responsibility in deciding its own affairs and move it to a less regulated environment. The Act is transitional and eventually the three statutory industry authorities covered by it will revert to a nonstatutory status, but having provided a framework within which the industry can, effectively operate over the longer term. It will also enable industry to identify its problems and devise commercial responses to them, while ensuring an industry-wide commitment to, and consensus in, this process.

An important role of AMLC continued under the Act is AMLC's control over the export of meat and livestock from Australia. These export control powers, which are provided for under Part 3 of the Act, relate to the licensing of meat and livestock exporters, the maintenance of quality and animal welfare standards, and the management of conditions or restraints imposed on Australian exports by importing countries. The licensing system is integral to this and relies upon provisions that essentially carry on those within Division 2 of the Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation Act 1977 (which is to be repealed from 1 July 1995).

The purpose of the proposed regulations is to prescribe administrative matters to ensure the smooth operation of the licensing system which AMLC controls.

Details of the regulations are set out as follows:

Regulation 1 - Citation

This regulation provides for the Regulations to be called the Meat and Live-stock (Conditions of Export) Industry Regulations.

Regulation 2 - Commencement

This regulation provides for the Regulations to commence at the same time as the principal Act on 1 July 1995.

Regulation 3 - Interpretation

This regulation provides various definitions that will assist in the interpretation of the Regulations.

Regulation 4 - Meat unfit for human consumption

This regulation prescribes the types of meat unfit for human consumption for the purposes of Part 3 of the Act.

Regulation 5 - Application for export licence

This regulation prescribes information to be included in application for meat export licence or live-stock export licence.

Regulation 6 - Documents to accompany application for export licence

This regulation prescribes the documents which are to accompany an application of a meat export licence or live-stock export licence.

Regulation 7 - Application for renewal of export licence

This regulation prescribes information and matters to be included in application for renewal of export licence.

Regulation 8 - Documents to accompany application for renewal of export licence

This regulation prescribes the documents which are to accompany an application for renewal of a meat export licence or live-stock export licence.

Regulation 9 - Licence subject to condition that holder inform AMLC of certain events

This regulation prescribes a number of events which a licence holder must advise AMLC of and 30 days from the event as the time limit in which advice must be given by the licence holder to AMLC.

Regulation 10 - Matters to which AMLC must have regard in granting a licence

This regulation prescribes matters to be taken into account in determining integrity, competence and financial standing of an applicant for an export licence.

Regulation 11 - Matters to which AMLC must have regard in renewing a licence

This regulation prescribes matters to be taken into account in determining integrity, competence and financial standing of an applicant for a renewal of an export licence.

Regulation 12 - Manner in which samples are to be dealt with

This regulation prescribes the manner in which meat or live-stock, or samples of them, are to be dealt with.

Regulation 13 - Information for the purposes of subsection 153(3) of the Act

This regulation prescribes the name and address of a nominee is information that must be provided by a licence holder to AMLC in order for a licence holder to appoint a nominee.

Regulation 14 - Prescribed person for the purposes of subsection 158 (3) of the Act

This regulation prescribes AMLC's Managing Director as the person who decides what happens to seized items ordered forfeited by a court.

The regulations are to commence in conjunction with the Act on 1 July 1995.

 

Overview

The Meat and Livestock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations 1995, made under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, are subsidiary legislation designed to complement the Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1995. This Act was enacted by the Australian Parliament with the objective of establishing a new governance framework for the meat and livestock industry, including the formation of the Meat Industry Council and the delineation of roles for the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation and the Meat Research Corporation. The Regulations aim to ensure the effective implementation of the Act's provisions, particularly concerning the control and licensing of meat and livestock exports, the maintenance of quality and animal welfare standards, and adherence to export conditions imposed by importing countries. The Regulations, which came into effect on 1 July 1995, provide administrative details to facilitate the smooth operation of the export licensing system managed by the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation.

Scope and Application

The Meat and Livestock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations 1995, issued under the Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1995, apply to entities and individuals involved in the export of meat and livestock from Australia, primarily focusing on the administrative and operational aspects of the licensing system controlled by the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (AMLC). The Act is designed to provide a framework for the meat and livestock industry in Australia, allowing for greater industry autonomy and reduced regulatory burden over time. The regulations, which commence on 1 July 1995, are intended to ensure the smooth operation of the export licensing system by prescribing various administrative matters such as the information required for licence applications, the documents to accompany such applications, and the procedures for licence renewals and sample handling. These regulations apply nationally across Australia, ensuring uniformity in the administration of meat and livestock export controls. The Act and its regulations are designed to be transitional, with the statutory industry authorities eventually moving to a non-statutory status as the industry develops its own governance and operational frameworks.

Key Provisions

The Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions of Export) Regulations 1995 (the Regulations) provide detailed administrative provisions to ensure the smooth operation of the export licensing system for meat and livestock. Regulation 2 sets the commencement date of the Regulations, which align with the commencement of the principal Act on 1 July 1995. Regulation 3 provides necessary definitions that aid in the interpretation of the Regulations, ensuring clarity and consistency in their application. Regulation 4 identifies the types of meat that are deemed unfit for human consumption, a crucial aspect for maintaining food safety standards. Regulation 5 specifies the information that must be included in an application for a meat or livestock export licence, ensuring that all relevant details are provided to the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (AMLC) for assessment. The Regulations impose various obligations on parties involved in the export of meat and livestock. Regulation 6 details the documents that must accompany an application for an export licence, ensuring that AMLC has all necessary information to process the application. Regulation 7 outlines the information and matters to be included in an application for the renewal of an export licence, ensuring that the licence holder's continued compliance with the standards is verified. Regulation 8 specifies the documents required with a renewal application, maintaining a consistent administrative process. Regulation 9 mandates that licence holders inform AMLC of certain events within a stipulated timeframe, facilitating timely updates on operational changes or issues that could impact export activities. Failure to comply with the Regulations can result in significant consequences. While the explanatory statement does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties, breaches of the licensing conditions or failure to provide the required information could lead to the suspension or revocation of export licences, as per the Act. Such actions would disrupt export activities and potentially harm the reputation of the involved entities. Additionally, non-compliance with quality and animal welfare standards could result in legal action under the Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1995, including potential fines or other civil remedies. The seriousness of these consequences underscores the importance of adhering to the Regulations.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.