Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat) Orders 1985

as amended

made under regulation 3 of the

This compilation was prepared on 1 December 2010
taking into account amendments up to Game, Poultry and Rabbit Meat Amendment Orders 2010 (No. 1)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Contents

Part 1                    Preliminary                                                                                     

                        1     Name of Orders [see Note 1]                                                                4

                        2     Commencement                                                                                  4

                        3     Incorporation with Prescribed Goods (General) Orders                            4

                        4     Application                                                                                          4

                        5     Interpretation                                                                                       4

                      5A     Application of Orders to ratite meat and ratite meat products                   5

Part 2                    Registered establishments                                                        

                        6     Preparation in registered establishment                                                 6

                      6A     Separate registration                                                                            6

                        7     Compliance with Australian Standards, etc                                            6

                      7A     Office for veterinary officer                                                                     6

Part 3                    Conditions or restrictions                                                          

                        8     Conditions or restrictions to be complied with                                         7

Part 4                    Application of official marks and other stamps                    

                        9     Official mark to be applied                                                                    8

                       10     Optional application of official mark                                                       8

                       11     Application of stamp to poultry or rabbits not prepared under supervision  8

                       12     Legibility and fixing of official mark etc                                                   8

                       13     Means of applying official mark to surface of prescribed goods                 9

Part 5                    Prescribed tag                                                                               

                       14     Information to be included on tag                                                         10

Part 6                    Sealing of cartons                                                                        

                       15     Carton sealing for foreign country                                                        11

Part 7                    Sealing of means of transport, container system units, ships, establishment and samples                                                                                  

                       21     Sealing of container system units                                                        12

                       22     Sealing of ships etc                                                                           12

                       23     Sealing of establishment                                                                    12

                       24     Sealing of samples                                                                            12

                       25     Application of seals                                                                            13

                       26     Seals not to be broken                                                                       13

                       27     Breakage of seals during transport                                                      13

Part 8                    Date marking                                                                                 

                       28     Prescribed goods to be date marked                                                   14

                       29     Date of packaging                                                                              14

                       30     Code to be approved when used                                                          14

                       31     Design of date of packaging other than for cans                                    14

                       32     Legibility of date of packaging                                                             15

                       33     Altering or interfering with date of packaging prohibited                          15

                       34     Expiry date or shelf life                                                                       15

Part 9                    Exotic disease                                                                               

                       36     Notification of State or Territory authorities                                           16

                       37     Procedures to be implemented                                                            16

                       38     Procedures to be maintained until advised otherwise                             16

                       39     Obligations of occupier of registered establishment                               17

Part 10                  Export certification and trade descriptions                           

                       40     Ante and Post Mortem Certification                                                     18

                       41     Requirements to be complied with                                                       18

Schedule 1             Inspection stamp                                                                             19

Schedule 2             Trade descriptions                                                                           20

Notes                                                                                                                                       25

 

Part 1                 Preliminary

  

1              Name of Orders [see Note 1]

                These Orders are the Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat) Orders 1985.

2              Commencement

                These Orders shall come into operation on 29 April 1985.

3              Incorporation with Prescribed Goods (General) Orders

                These Orders shall be read as one with the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005.

4              Application

        4.1   These Orders apply to the following goods:

                (a)    rabbit meat;

               (b)    rabbit meat products;

                (c)    ratite meat;

               (d)    ratite meat products.

      4.1A   However, these Orders do not apply to goods to which the Export Control (Wild Game Meat and Wild Game Meat Products) Orders 2010 apply.

        4.2   Goods to which these Orders apply are declared to be prescribed for the purposes of the definition of prescribed goods in section 3 of the Export Control Act 1982.

5              Interpretation

        5.1   In these Orders, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australian Rabbit Meat Standard means the Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Rabbit Meat for Human Consumption (AS 4466:1997), as in force on 1 December 2010.

Australian Ratite Meat Standard means the Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Ratite (Emu/Ostrich) meat for Human Consumption (AS 5010:2001), as in force on 1 December 2010.

edible means suitable for human consumption.

exotic disease means:

                (a)    African swine fever;

               (b)    classical swine fever or hog cholera;

                (c)    foot and mouth disease;

               (d)    swine vesicular disease;

                (e)    vesicular exanthema; and

                (f)    vesicular stomatitis.

prescribed tag means a tag containing the trade description details specified in Schedule 2 of these Orders.

rabbit includes a hare.

rabbit meat means a part of a rabbit that is intended for human consumption.

rabbit meat product means a food that has been processed beyond boning, slicing or trimming, other than soup, that is suitable for human consumption, being a food that:

                (a)    has been prepared from rabbit meat; or

               (b)    contains in excess of 5% by mass of rabbit meat.

ratite means an emu, ostrich or other species of flightless bird.

ratite meat means a part of a ratite that is intended for human consumption.

ratite meat product means a food that has been processed beyond boning, slicing or trimming, other than soup, that is suitable for human consumption, being a food that:

                (a)    has been prepared from ratite meat; or

               (b)    contains in excess of 5% by mass of ratite meat.

        5.3   In these Orders, the words ‘Penal provision’ at the foot of any provision indicate that a contravention of the provision is a contravention for the purposes of regulation 4 of the Regulations.

5A           Application of Orders to ratite meat and ratite meat products

                A condition or restriction specified by an export control order (including these Orders) applies to ratite meat and ratite meat products only to the extent that a condition or restriction of that kind is required to be complied with by the country to which the ratite meat or ratite meat products are to be exported.

Part 2                 Registered establishments

6              Preparation in registered establishment

                Prescribed goods to which these Orders apply shall be prepared in a registered establishment except that rabbits may be partly eviscerated before they are brought to an establishment.

6A           Separate registration

                An establishment that is intended to be used to dress rabbits shall be registered only for that operation and shall not be concurrently registered for an operation that includes the preparation (other than storage) of prescribed goods to which the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Orders 2005 or the Export Control (Wild Game Meat and Wild Game Meat Products) Orders 2010 apply.

7              Compliance with Australian Standards, etc

                The occupier of a registered establishment preparing prescribed goods to which these Orders comply must comply with the requirements specified in order 7A and:

                (c)    if the prescribed goods are ratite meat or ratite meat products – the Australian Ratite Meat Standard; or

               (d)    if the prescribed goods are rabbit meat and rabbit meat products — the Australian Rabbit Meat Standard.

7A           Office for veterinary officer

                        Where an authorized officer, who is a veterinary officer, is required to be present at an establishment during the preparation of prescribed goods, a lockable office having a minimum floor area of nine square metres shall be provided for the exclusive use of that officer which shall be equipped with:

                (a)    a telephone;

               (b)    a desk;

                (c)    a chair;

               (d)    a lockable metal cabinet;

                (e)    an approved locker; and

                (f)    where the floor is not treated with a treatment approved by the Secretary, a floor covering.

 

Part 3                 Conditions or restrictions

8              Conditions or restrictions to be complied with

        8.1   For the purposes of subsection 7 (1) of the Act, the export of prescribed goods to which these Orders apply is prohibited unless the conditions or restrictions specified in these Orders and:

                (c)    if the prescribed goods are ratite meat or ratite meat products – the Australian Ratite Meat Standard; or

               (d)    if the prescribed goods are rabbit meat and rabbit meat products — the Australian Rabbit Meat Standard;

                are complied with.

        8.2   Suborder 8.1 does not limit the operation of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005 in relation to prescribed goods to which these Orders apply.

 

 

Part 4                 Application of official marks and other stamps

9              Official mark to be applied

                Where prescribed goods have been prepared under the supervision of an authorized officer, inspected by an authorized officer and passed for export, an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005, shall be applied to the outside of a carton, barrel or cask into which the goods are packed.

10            Optional application of official mark

                Subject to order 9, where prescribed goods have been:

                (a)    derived from a carcase that has been subjected to a public health inspection by;

               (b)    prepared under the supervision of; and

                (c)    passed for export by;

an authorized officer, an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005 as amended, may be applied to:

                (f)    an intermediate package into which the goods are packed;

                (g)    a tag placed in an outer carton into which the goods are packed;

                (h)    a tag affixed to a container system unit into which the goods are packed; or

                 (i)    a seal in accordance with order 15.

11            Application of stamp to poultry or rabbits not prepared under supervision

                Where prescribed goods do not comply with paragraphs 10 (a) and (b), but have been:

                (c)    passed for export by an authorized officer; and

               (d)    packed in a carton or other covering;

the outside of the carton or other covering shall be stamped by, or at the direction of, an authorized officer with an inspection stamp in accordance with the design specified in the Schedule 1.

12            Legibility and fixing of official mark etc

                An:

                (a)    official mark referred to in order 9 or 10; or

               (b)    inspection stamp referred to in order 11;

shall be applied so that it is legible and affixed in a reasonably permanent manner.

13            Means of applying official mark to surface of prescribed goods

                Where an official mark referred to in order 9 or 10 is applied directly to the surface of prescribed goods, the mark shall be applied by means of:

                (a)    a thermal process;

               (b)    a food grade dye approved by the Secretary; or

                (c)    any other method approved by the Secretary.

 

Part 5                 Prescribed tag

14            Information to be included on tag

                For the purposes of these Orders, a prescribed tag shall contain:

                (a)    the official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005;

               (b)    the date of packaging;

                (c)    the name, or the name and logo, of the producer, exporter or consignee;

               (d)    the word ‘Australia’; and

                (f)    the net mass of the prescribed goods.

 

Part 6                 Sealing of cartons

15            Carton sealing for foreign country

                Where the occupier of a registered establishment wishes to seal a carton into which prescribed goods are packed to satisfy the requirements of a foreign country authority, the seal shall:

                (a)    be made from treated paper or other suitable material that will withstand normal commercial storage and transport conditions;

               (b)    be white in colour and may contain a serial number or other details required by the foreign country authority;

                (c)    firmly adhere to the carton;

               (d)    have the following dimensions:

                          (i)    length — not less than 125 mm and not more than 160 mm;

                         (ii)    width — not less than 45 mm and not more than 75 mm; and

                (e)    be applied in accordance with the requirements of the foreign country authority;

and the authorized officer supervising the packing may permit the application to the seal of an impression of an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005, in such a manner as the occupier requests to meet the requirements of that foreign country authority.

 

Part 7                 Sealing of means of transport, container system units, ships, establishment and samples

21            Sealing of container system units

      21.1   Where prescribed goods are loaded into a container system unit and the unit is held on a registered establishment for the purpose of storing the goods, the container system unit shall:

                (a)    be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005; and

               (b)    not be removed from the establishment if it contains prescribed goods until the unit has been sealed in accordance with suborder 21.2.

      21.2   Where prescribed goods are loaded into a container system unit (other than a unit intended for carriage by an aircraft) and the unit is transported from a registered establishment, that unit shall be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005.

22            Sealing of ships etc

                On request, a:

                (a)    hold, locker or access port of a ship; or

               (b)    cask or barrel;

containing prescribed goods may be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005.

23            Sealing of establishment

                The Secretary may require a registered establishment, or a part thereof, to be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005, in accordance with directions given by the Secretary.

24            Sealing of samples

                Where there is a need to ensure the security of samples, the covering in which the samples are transported to a laboratory for examination may be sealed with an official mark the design of which is specified in Part 13 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005.

25            Application of seals

                Official marks referred to in order 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 shall be applied in accordance with directions issued by the Secretary.

26            Seals not to be broken

                Subject to order 27, where an official mark has been applied for the purpose of order 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24, it shall be a contravention of these Orders if a person other than:

                (a)    an authorized officer;

               (b)    a person directed by an authorized officer; or

                (c)    in the case of a mark applied for the purposes of order 24 — an approved analyst;

interferes with the official mark.

27            Breakage of seals during transport

                Where official marks have been applied for the purpose of order 20 or 21 and the means of transport or container system unit arrives at its destination within Australia with the official mark broken, the prescribed goods shall be:

                (a)    retained under security by an authorized officer; and

               (b)    re‑examined and disposed of in accordance with directions given by the Secretary;

and the authorized officer shall investigate the breakage and submit a report to the Secretary through the regional office.

 

Part 8                 Date marking

28            Prescribed goods to be date marked

                Prescribed goods shall have the date of packaging applied in clear to:

                (a)    in the case of goods packed in an outer carton or other outer covering, other than a bag — the outer carton or other outer covering, and that date shall be the same as the date or code that appears on any intermediate packaging including cans;

               (b)    in the case of goods packed in a bag — the prescribed tag or other tag; and

                (c)    in the case of goods packed in a can — the can end, by indelible means or embossing, and where a date code has been approved by the Secretary, this may be used instead of the in-clear date.

29            Date of packaging

                For the purposes of order 28, the date of packaging shall be:

                (a)    in the case of prescribed goods that have undergone preservation by refrigeration only — the date of first packaging;

               (b)    in the case of prescribed goods, other than canned goods, that have been manufactured or undergone heat treatment — the date on which the manufacture or heat treatment is completed; and

                (c)    in the case of prescribed goods that are canned — the date on which the can is closed.

30            Code to be approved when used

                Where a code is used to indicate the date of packaging under paragraph 28 (c), the occupier of a registered establishment shall:

                (a)    use an approved code issued by the Secretary; or

               (b)    where the occupier desires to use a different code, submit the code to be used to the Secretary for approval and not use the code until written approval has been received.

Penal provision

31            Design of date of packaging other than for cans

                Except in the case of cans, the date of packaging applied under order 28 shall consist of the words ‘PACKED ON’ or the letters and word ‘PKD ON’ followed by the date, and shall be in:

                (a)    capital letters and numbers at least 5 mm high; and

               (b)    the form of 1 or 2 digits representing the day of the month, followed by the first 3 letters in the name of the month or the name of the month in full, followed by 4 digits representing the year or 2 digits representing the last 2 numbers of the year.

32            Legibility of date of packaging

                The date of packaging applied under order 28 shall be legible and shall be affixed in a reasonably permanent manner.

33            Altering or interfering with date of packaging prohibited

                The date of packaging applied under order 28 shall not be altered or interfered with.

Penal provision

34            Expiry date or shelf life

      34.1   Subject to suborder 34.2, where an expiry date or a statement as to the expected shelf life of prescribed goods is applied in addition to the date of packaging the:

                (a)    expiry date shall be preceded by words or abbreviations of words that clearly indicate its intent; or

               (b)    shelf life statement shall clearly convey its intent.

      34.2   Where the prescribed goods have been preserved by refrigeration only, the maximum period that shall be indicated by the expiry date or shelf life statement is:

                (a)    in the case of chilled ratite meat — 14 days from the date of chilling;

               (b)    in the case of chilled rabbit meat — 14 days from the date of dressing and chilling; or

                (c)    in the case of frozen goods — 18 months from the date of packaging.

 

Part 9                 Exotic disease

36            Notification of State or Territory authorities

                Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that an exotic disease is present at a registered establishment, the competent authority of the State or Territory in which the establishment is located shall be immediately notified in accordance with the law of that State or Territory.

37            Procedures to be implemented

                Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that an exotic disease is present at a registered establishment, the following procedures shall be implemented:

                (a)    access to the establishment shall be controlled;

               (b)    the movement of prescribed goods, other goods, vehicles, guard dogs and persons off the establishment shall be prohibited;

                (c)    the movement of prescribed goods, other goods and vehicles within the establishment shall cease;

               (d)    action shall be put in train to determine the:

                         (iii)    identity and location of all prescribed goods and other goods on the establishment;

                (e)    all dressing operations shall immediately cease;

                (f)    the carcase and parts of all carcases that have not been subjected to post‑mortem inspection shall be inspected;

                (g)    all affected carcases and their parts shall be identified and held so that any interference is prevented;

                (h)    access to prescribed goods and other goods held on the establishment shall be secured;

                 (i)    all personnel who might have been exposed to the affected carcases or their parts shall be identified and confined to their work station until such time as provision can be made for the:

                          (i)    seizure and disinfection of equipment and apparel that may have been contaminated; and

                         (ii)    controlled decontamination or the persons of such personnel;

                (j)    water use on the establishment shall be kept to a minimum;

               (k)    any other procedures required by the competent authority in the State or Territory in which the registered establishment is located.

38            Procedures to be maintained until advised otherwise

                The procedures under order 37 shall be maintained until the competent authority in the State or Territory in which the registered establishment is located advises that they may be discontinued or that authority takes control.

39            Obligations of occupier of registered establishment

                For the purposes of implementing the procedures under order 37, the occupier of a registered establishment shall have in place arrangements that shall:

                (a)    ensure that all the procedures can be put into effect without delay;

               (b)    ensure that all directions given by an authorized officer are implemented without delay;

                (c)    provide ready access to a telephone;

               (d)    maintain a system of inventory giving detailed information as to the:

                         (ii)    origin of prescribed goods and other goods and their location on the establishment;

                         (iii)    destination of prescribed goods and other goods that have left the establishment; and

                (e)    provide any other assistance or information that an authorized officer requests.

Part 10               Export certification and trade descriptions

40            Ante and Post Mortem Certification

                Where ratites from which ratite meat or ratite meat products are derived, have undergone ante and post mortem inspection, an authorized officer may issue to the occupier of the establishment or the person intending to export the goods, a certificate attesting to the inspection which shall be in writing in a form approved by the Secretary.

41            Requirements to be complied with

                A trade description as set out in Column 3 of Schedule 2 to these Orders in relation to prescribed goods of a kind shown in Column 1 of Schedule 2, shall be applied to prescribed goods of that kind.

Schedule 1        Inspection stamp

(order 11)

  

Design of stamp

The inspection stamp referred to in order 11 for ratites or rabbits that do not comply with paragraphs 10 (a) and (b) but that have been passed for export by an authorized officer shall be in accordance with the following design:

 

 

Schedule 2        Trade descriptions

(order 41)

  

 

Column 1   Category of meat	Column 2   Conditions or restrictions to be complied with	Column 3 Provisions relating to trade descriptions in addition to those specified in these Orders and the Export Control (Prescribed Goods — General) Order 2005
4.   Rabbit — whole carcase	1.   A rabbit carcase shall be derived from an animal of the genus Oryctolagus.	1.  The trade description applied to rabbit carcases shall include the word ‘Rabbit’. 2.  The trade description applied to rabbit carcases may include an indication as to the number of carcases contained within the carton or covering, on the outer carton or covering. 3.  Where the trade description applied to rabbit carcases includes a mass range, it shall, be shown as:      (a)   numbers and a symbol that represents the minimum and maximum net mass of the carcase in the coverings; or
		(b)   a number and symbol representing the:             (i)   minimum net mass of any carcase in the covering; or            (ii)   maximum net mass of any carcase in the covering; preceded or followed by words, or abbrevations of words that clearly indicate the intent, on the cartons or coverings. 4.  Where the carcase has been prepared to include skin, head or feet, the trade description shall include the words ‘Skin On’, ‘Head On’, ‘Feet On’ or a combination of any of these, on the cartons or coverings.
5.   Rabbit — pieces or portions	1.   Rabbit pieces or portions shall be derived from rabbits complying with Clause 1, Column 2 of Category 4.	1.  The trade description applied to rabbit pieces or portions shall include:      (a)   the word ‘Rabbit’;     (b)   the approved description of the pieces or portions; on the cartons or coverings. 2.  The trade description applied to rabbit pieces or portions may include:      (a)   an indication of the number of pieces or portions in the carton or in the covering; and     (b)   the word or words ‘bone‑in’, ‘boned out’, ‘part boned’ or ‘boneless’ as appropriate.
		3.  Where rabbit pieces or portions are packed in an inner container or package the trade description may include a reference to any or all of the following:      (a)   the number of inner containers or packages; or     (b)   type of inner containers or packages; or      (c)   the net mass of inner containers or packages; or     (d)   the number of pieces or portions contained in inner containers or packages; on the outer cartons or coverings.
6.   Rabbit — edible offal	1.   Rabbit offal shall be derived from rabbits complying with Clause 1, Column 2 of Category 4.	1.  The trade description applied to rabbit offal shall include — the word ‘Rabbit’ and the approved description of the cut or organ, on the cartons or coverings. 2.  Where rabbit offal is packed in an inner container or package, the trade description may include a reference to any or all of the following:
		(a)   the number of inner containers or packages;     (b)   type of inner containers or packages;      (c)   the net mass of inner containers or packages; or
		(d)   the number of cuts or organs in inner containers or packages; on the outer cartons or coverings.
7.   Hare — whole carcase	1.   A hare carcase shall be derived from an animal of the genus Lepus.	1.  The trade description applied to hare carcases shall include the word ‘Hare’. 2.  The trade description applied to hare carcases may include an indication as to the number of carcases contained within the carton or covering, on the outer carton or covering. 3.   Where the trade description applied to hare carcases includes a mass range, it shall be shown as:      (a)   numbers and a symbol that represents the minimum and maximum net mass of the carcase in the coverings; or
		(b)   a number and symbol representing the:             (i)   minimum net mass or any carcase in the covering; or
		(ii)   maximum net mass of any carcase in the covering; preceded or followed by words, or abbreviation of words, that indicate the intent; on the cartons or coverings.
		4.  Where the carcase has been prepared to include, skin, head, or feet, the trade description shall include the words ‘Skin On’, ‘Head On’, ‘Feet On’ or a combination of any of these, on the cartons or coverings.
8.   Hare — pieces or portions	1.   Hare pieces or portions shall be derived from hares complying with Clause 1, Column 2 of Category 7.	1.  The trade description applied to hare pieces or portions shall include:      (a)   the word ‘Hare’;     (b)   the approved description of the pieces or portions; on the cartons or coverings. 2.  The trade description applied to hare pieces or portions may include:      (a)   an indication of the number of pieces or portions in the carton or in the covering; and     (b)   the word or words ‘bone-in’ ‘boned-out’, ‘part boned’ or ‘boneless’ as appropriate. 3.  Where hare pieces or portions are packed in an inner container or package the trade description may include a reference to any or all of the following:      (a)   the number of inner containers or packages; or     (b)   type or inner containers or packages; or
		(c)   the net mass of inner containers or packages; or
		(d)   the number of pieces or portions contained in inner containers or packages; on the outer cartons or coverings.
9.   Hare — edible offal	1.   Hare offal shall be derived from hares complying with Clause 1, Column 2 of Category 7.	1.  The trade description applied to hare offal shall include — the word ‘Hare’ and the approved description of the cut or organ, on the cartons or coverings. 2.  Where hare offal is packed in an inner container or package, the trade description may include a reference to any or all of the following:      (a)   a number of inner containers or packages;     (b)   type of inner containers or packages; or      (c)   the net mass of inner containers or packages; or     (d)   the number of cuts or organs in inner containers or packages; on the cartons or coverings.

 

 

Notes to the Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat) Orders 1985

Note 1

The Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat) Orders 1985 (in force under regulation 3 of the Export Control (Orders) Regulations 1982) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Table of Amendments