STATUTORY RULES.
1931. No. 31.
REGULATION UNDER THE QUARANTINE ACT 1908-1924.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Quarantine Act 1908-1924, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this eighteenth day of March, 1931.
ISAAC A. ISAACS
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
J. McNEILL,
Minister for Health.
Amendment of Quarantine Regulations 1927.
The Quarantine Regulations 1927 (Statutory Rules 1927, No. 8) are amended—
1. By inserting after the word “animals” in the third line of paragraph 4 of Regulation 104 the words “other than oats”.
2. By inserting after Regulation 133 the following Regulation:—
“133a. Animal casings shall be accompanied by a certificate bearing the signature of a Government veterinary official of the country of origin certifying that the animal casings were derived from animals free from all infectious or contagious diseases; that the animals from which the animal casings were obtained were subjected to ante- and post-mortem veterinary inspection at the time of slaughter, and that the animal casings were not exposed to infection prior to importation:
Provided that any animal casings which are unaccompanied by such a certificate, shall be destroyed or subjected to disinfection by—
(a) submerging each 100 lb. of casings or part thereof in a solution containing 4 lb. pure hydrosulphite of soda containing at least 84 per cent. of sodium hydrosulphite in 30 gallons of water for fifteen hours, then washing in running water for three hours; or
(b) submerging not more than 175 lb. of casings for one hour in a solution made by dissolving 90 lb. of common salt in 100 gallons of water and adding 2¾ gallons of hydrochloric acid (containing not less than 35 per cent. of actual hydrochloric acid), the finished solution to contain not less than 1 per cent. of actual hydrochloride acid; then submerging for thirty minutes in a solution containing 8½ lb. sodium bicarbonate in 100 gallons of water.”
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
492.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1931 No. 31, made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1924, amends the Quarantine Regulations 1927 to address the importation of animal products and ensure they do not carry infectious or contagious diseases. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Governor-General, the Honourable Sir Isaac Isaacs, with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary objective of these regulations is to safeguard Australia’s biosecurity by imposing strict controls on the importation of animal casings and ensuring they are derived from animals that are free from diseases and have undergone appropriate veterinary inspections. These amendments aim to mitigate the risk of disease transmission through imported animal products, thereby protecting Australia’s livestock and agricultural industries from potential health threats.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1931, No. 31, made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1924, amend the Quarantine Regulations 1927 to modify specific requirements concerning the importation of animal products. These regulations apply to all persons and entities involved in the importation of animal casings, ensuring they meet the stipulated health standards to prevent the introduction of infectious or contagious diseases into Australia. The amendment specifies that animal casings must be accompanied by a certificate from a government veterinary official of the country of origin, attesting to the health status of the animals from which the casings were derived. This requirement ensures that the casings are free from contamination and have undergone appropriate veterinary inspections. Furthermore, the regulation provides alternative methods for disinfecting casings that do not have the required certificate, ensuring that all imported casings meet the necessary sanitary standards before entering the Australian market. The regulation's application is national, extending across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it applies uniformly to all entities involved in the importation of these products.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Statutory Rules 1931, No. 31, made under the Quarantine Act 1908-1924, primarily focus on the amendment of the Quarantine Regulations 1927. Specifically, the regulation modifies Regulation 104 by inserting the phrase “other than oats” after the word “animals” in the third line of paragraph 4 (Regulation 104). Furthermore, it introduces a new regulation, 133a, which mandates that animal casings must be accompanied by a certificate from a government veterinary official in the country of origin. This certificate must confirm that the animal casings were derived from animals free from infectious or contagious diseases, that the animals underwent ante- and post-mortem inspections at the time of slaughter, and that the animal casings were not exposed to infection before importation.
Entities and parties governed by these regulations must ensure that any animal casings imported into Australia comply with these stringent requirements. Specifically, they must provide a valid certificate from a government veterinary official as stipulated in Regulation 133a. Failure to present such a certificate results in mandatory destruction or disinfection of the animal casings. The disinfection processes outlined include submerging the casings in specific chemical solutions for prescribed periods, followed by washing or further submersion in additional solutions (Regulation 133a).
Breaches of these regulations can result in severe consequences. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but given the stringent nature of the requirements, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to these provisions could result in significant legal and financial repercussions. Under the overarching Quarantine Act 1908-1924, penalties for non-compliance with quarantine regulations can include fines and imprisonment, with the specific penalties varying based on the severity and frequency of the offence.