Quarantine (Animals) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1961, No. 23, under the Quarantine Act 1908-1950, was enacted to address the issue of preventing the introduction of quarantinable diseases into Australia through the maritime transport of Australian meat between Australian ports. This regulation was made by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and was notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 20 February 1961. The policy objective of these regulations is to ensure that stringent precautions are taken by the masters of overseas vessels to maintain the integrity of the quarantine process, thereby protecting Australia's livestock and meat industries from potential disease outbreaks. The regulations require the cleansing of meat chambers, the exclusive use of Australian meat during transport, the sealing of chambers in the presence of quarantine officers, and the verification of seals at intermediate and final unloading ports to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases.

Scope and Application

The Quarantine (Animals) Regulations, as amended by the Statutory Rules 1961, No. 23, apply to the master of any oversea vessel carrying Australian meat for removal by sea between Australian ports. The scope of these regulations is limited to preventing the introduction of quarantinable diseases into Australia through the carriage of meat on vessels. The measures prescribed by the regulation include the cleansing of the meat chamber, the placement and inspection of seals, and the requirement for quarantine officer oversight during these processes. These regulations apply nationally across Australia, as they are part of the overarching Quarantine Act 1908-1950. The regulations do not apply to vessels that exclusively trade between Australia and New Zealand. The application of these regulations can be extended or modified through further subordinate instruments under the authority of the Quarantine Act.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1961 No. 23, made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1950, primarily amend the Quarantine (Animals) Regulations. Specifically, Regulation 95a replaces the previous regulation, outlining new precautions for masters of overseas vessels carrying Australian meat between Australian ports (95a(1)). These precautions are designed to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases into Australia. Before loading meat onto the vessel, the master must ensure the chamber used for carrying the meat is cleansed to the satisfaction of a quarantine officer (95a(2)). Meat can only be placed in the chamber after Australian meat has been loaded, and the chamber must be locked and sealed in the presence of a quarantine officer (95a(3)-(5)). If the meat is unloaded at multiple ports, the chamber must be locked and sealed again at each port after unloading (95a(6)). Unloading meat at the final destination requires the seal to be broken in the presence of a quarantine officer, accompanied by certificates from the initial and any intermediate ports confirming compliance with the cleansing and sealing procedures (95a(7)-(8)). The definition of "meat" excludes meat in hermetically sealed cans or tins and rendered fat (95a(9)). Under these regulations, the master of an overseas vessel has specific obligations to ensure the safety and compliance of the meat transport process. These include cleansing the meat chamber before loading, ensuring only Australian meat is loaded initially, locking and sealing the chamber in the presence of a quarantine officer, and repeating this process at each port of unloading. The master must also produce certificates confirming that the prescribed procedures have been followed. If the seal on the chamber lock is broken before arrival at the final destination, the master must obtain a certificate from the Chief Quarantine Officer to confirm it is safe to unload the meat (95a(8)). Failure to comply with these regulations may result in severe consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, violations of the Quarantine Act 1908-1950 or its associated regulations generally carry significant fines and potential imprisonment. Under the Quarantine Act, penalties for non-compliance can include substantial fines and imprisonment for up to five years. Additionally, breaches of these regulations can lead to civil liabilities, including compensation for any damage caused by the introduction of quarantinable diseases. The severity of the penalties underscores the importance of adhering to these regulations to protect Australia's biosecurity.