Page 2161 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2018
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In the ACT only cattle are required to have a device fitted and their movements traceable through the database. As cattle move between properties with different identification codes, this is recorded on the database. Cattle can be traced on and off different properties, saleyards and abattoirs.
This is important. If, for example, chemical or antibiotic residues are detected in meat at an abattoir, the property where the affected stock were last held can be identified and investigations done on that property as to why the residue has occurred. Knowing all the properties on which the animals resided means that the problem can be more quickly addressed.
I would now like to provide some information about the property identification codes, or PICs, because they are an important component of an effective biosecurity system. Property information helps build a territory-wide biosecurity picture about agricultural use and livestock numbers. PICs are fundamental to the NLIS because they provide traceability to specific properties. With a PIC, property occupiers can obtain identification devices for their animals, identify their property for movement recording and enrol in industry quality assurance programs. PICs are currently not mandatory.
I will now go into a bit more detail about the bill itself. The bill affects a variety of livestock industry stakeholders, including primary producers, hobby producers and people who own livestock as pets, stock and station agents, livestock saleyards, and operators of stock events such as agricultural shows.
Division 4.2 of the bill requires a PIC to be held by people who keep cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas, llamas, horses, mules, donkeys, more than 10 emus and ostriches, and more than 100 chickens. If a PIC is not obtained, an offence is committed, with a penalty of a maximum of 50 penalty units. Anyone operating an abattoir, saleyard and stock event must also obtain a PIC, with a maximum penalty of 50 units if they do not do so.
This new requirement to have a PIC reflects recent past experiences where the government’s response to outbreaks of equine influenza and avian influenza was hampered by a lack of knowledge about the location of these animals. Given that camelids and deer are susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, information on their location will help if we need to respond to this disease.
PICs will only be needed where people have more than 10 emus or ostriches or more than 100 small poultry. This means that recreational backyard keepers are not subject to the new requirements. The updated PIC requirements also provide consistency with New South Wales regulations.
The bill sets out requirements for the identification of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. These stock, known as identifiable stock in the bill, will have to be properly identified by having a permanent identifier properly attached. The bill defines what is “properly identified” and “properly attached”. Using counterfeit identifiers and altering and removing identifiers from stock are offences under the bill.
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