COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Game, Poultry and Rabbit Meat Orders

No. 3 of 1985

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART 1      PRELIMINARY
Order
  1.	Citation
  2.	Commencement
  3.		Incorporation with Prescribed Goods (General) Orders
  4.	Application
  5.	Interpretation

PART 2―REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENTS

  6.	Preparation in registered establishment
  7.	Compliance with certain requirements

PART 3―CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS

  8.		Conditions or restrictions to be complied with

PART 4―APPLICATION OF OFFICIAL MARKS AND OTHER STAMPS

  9.	Official mark to be applied
10.	Optional application of official mark
11.	Application of stamp to poultry or rabbits not prepared under supervision
12.		Legibility and fixing of official mark, etc
13.		Means of applying official mark to surface of prescribed goods

PART 5―PRESCRIBED TAG

14.	Information to be included on tag

PART 6―SEALING OF CARTONS

15.	Cartons to be sealed if required by foreign country
16.	Resealing of cartons after re‑examination
17.	Resealing of cartons after accidental breakage of seal
18.	Application of seals
19.	Stamping of seals

PART 7―SEALING OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT, CONTAINER SYSTEM UNITS, SHIPS, ESTABLISHMENT AND SAMPLES

20.	Sealing of means of transport
21.	Sealing of container system units
22.	Sealing of ships, etc
23.	Sealing of establishment
24.	Sealing of samples
25.	Application of seals
26.	Seals not to be broken
27.	Breakage of seals during transport

TABLE OF PROVISIONS   continued

PART 8―DATE MARKING

Order
28.	Prescribed goods to be date marked
29.	Date of packaging
30.	Code to be approved when used
31.	Design of date of packaging other than for cans
32.	Legibility of date of packaging
33.	Altering or interfering with date of packaging prohibited
34.	Expiry date or shelf life

PART 9―EXOTIC DISEASE

35.	Implementation of emergency procedures
36.	Notification of State or Territory authorities
37.	Procedures to be implemented
38.	Procedures to be maintained until advised otherwise
39.	Obligations of occupier of registered establishment

SCHEDULE

INSPECTION STAMP FOR POULTRY OR RABBITS

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

EXPORT CONTROL (ORDERS) REGULATIONS

Orders No. 3 of 1985

Game, Poultry and Rabbit Meat Orders

I, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRY of the Commonwealth of Australia, hereby make the following Orders under the Export Control (Orders) Regulations.

	Dated this 29th day of April 1985.

J. C. KERIN
Minister of State for Primary Industry

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PART 1―PRELIMINARY
Citation
	1.	These Orders may be cited as the Game, Poultry and Rabbit Meat Orders.

Commencement
	2.	These Orders shall come into operation on 29 April 1985.

Incorporation with Prescribed Goods (General) Orders
	3.	These Orders shall be read as one with the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders made under the Export Control (Orders) Regulations.

Application
	4.	These Orders apply to, or in relation to, prescribed goods being―
	(a)	edible game offal;
	(b)	game meat;
	(c)	game meat products;
	(d)	poultry meat;
	(e)	poultry meat products;
	(f)	rabbit meat; and
	(g)	rabbit meat products.

Interpretation
	5.1	In these Orders, unless the contrary intention appears―
	‘edible’ means suitable for human consumption;
	‘edible game offal’ means the―
		(a)	liver;
		(b)	kidney; or
		(c)	heart,
		of a game animal that has been separated from the carcase of the animal;
	‘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;
	‘game animal’ means a wild animal, other than a bird or rabbit, that has been killed in its habitat by a shot from a firearm;
	‘game meat’ means any part of a game animal, other than edible game offal, intended for human consumption; 
	‘game 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 game meat or edible game offal; or
		(b)	contains in excess of 5% by mass of game meat or edible game offal;
	‘poultry’ means domesticated fowl, ducks, geese or turkeys;
	‘poultry meat’ means a part of poultry that is intended for human consumption;
	‘poultry 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 poultry meat; or
		(b)	contains in excess of 5% by mass of poultry meat;
	‘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; and
	‘registered establishment’ means premises registered under order 19 of the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders.

	5.2	A reference in these Orders to the Exports (Meat) Regulations is a reference to those Regulations as in force on 31 December 1982.

PART 2―REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENTS

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

Compliance with certain requirements
	7.	A registered establishment preparing prescribed goods to which these Orders apply shall comply with the requirements specified in the Exports (Meat) Regulations that relate to the construction of those premises.

PART 3―CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS

Conditions or restrictions to be complied with
	8.	For the purposes of paragraphs 11.1 (c) and (d) of the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, the export of prescribed goods to which these Orders apply is prohibited unless the conditions or restrictions specified in the Exports (Meat) Regulations in relation to those goods are complied with.

PART 4―APPLICATION OF OFFICIAL MARKS AND OTHER STAMPS

Official mark to be applied
	9.	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 Schedule 11 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, shall be applied to―
	(a)	game meat in the form of bone-in carcases or bone-in portions of a carcase that have not been divided into primal or smaller cuts; and
	(b)	a prescribed tag that shall be attached to game meat in the form of bone-in carcases or bone-in portions of a carcase that have not been divided into primal or smaller cuts; and
	(c)	one side of a tag that is at least 75 mm x 75 mm that shall be permanently affixed to a bag in which game meat in the form of bone‑in carcases or bone‑in portions of a carcase that have not been divided into primal or smaller cuts are packed; or
	(d)	the outside of a carton, barrel or cask into which the goods are packed.

Optional application of official mark
	10.	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
Schedule 11 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, may be applied to―
	(d)	goods being game meat;
	(e)	goods being edible game offal;
	(f)	an intermediate package into which the goods are packed;
	(g)	a tag placed in an outer carton into which the goods are packed; or
	(h)	a tag affixed to a container system unit into which the goods are packed.

Application of stamp to poultry or rabbits not prepared under supervision
	11.	Where prescribed goods being―
	(a)	poultry meat or poultry meat products; or
	(b)	rabbit meat or rabbit meat products,
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.

Legibility and fixing of official mark, etc.
	12.	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.

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

Information to be included on tag
	14.	For the purposes of these Orders, a prescribed tag shall contain―
	(a)	the official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 11 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders;
	(b)	the date of packaging;
	(c)	the name, or the name and logo, of the producer, exporter or consignee;
	(d)	the word ‘Australia’;
	(e)	in the case of prescribed goods of a kind referred to in the First Column of the Third Schedule to the Exports (Meat) Regulations― the description of that kind of goods set out in that column; and
	(f)	the net mass of the prescribed goods.

PART 6―SEALING OF CARTONS

Cartons to be sealed if required by foreign country
	15.	Where―
	(a)	prescribed goods comply with paragraphs 10 (a), (b) and (c); and
	(b)	the occupier of a registered establishment wishes to have cartons into which the goods are packed sealed with an official mark in order to satisfy the requirements of a foreign country authority,
the authorized officer supervising the packing shall, upon the completion of the packing, immediately cause the carton to be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 7 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, and the mark shall be stamped in accordance with order 19.

Resealing of cartons after re‑examination
	16.1	Subject to sub-order 16.2, where, in order to re-examine prescribed goods contained in a carton referred to in order 15, the goods are inspected by an authorized officer and passed by the officer, that authorized officer shall immediately cause the carton to be resealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 8 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, and the mark shall be stamped in accordance with order 19.

	16.2	The Secretary may permit a carton opened for the purposes of sub-order 16.1 to be resealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 7 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, and the mark shall be stamped in accordance with order 19.

Resealing of cartons after accidental breakage of seal
	17.1	Subject to sub-order 17.2, where an official mark with which a carton was sealed in pursuance of order 15 or 16 is broken accidentally, an authorized officer may, either with or without re‑examining the prescribed goods contained in the carton, cause the carton to be resealed 
with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 8 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, and the mark shall be stamped in accordance with order 19.

	17.2	The Secretary may permit a carton referred to in sub‑order 17.1 to be rescaled with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 7 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, and the mark shall be stamped in accordance with order 19.

Application of seals
	18.	Subject to order 19, an official mark referred to in order 15, 16 or 17 shall be applied to a carton in such manner as the Secretary directs.

Stamping of seals
	19.	Stamping of an official mark for the purposes of order 15, 16 or 17 shall be by the application of an impression of an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 11 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, in such manner that approximately half of the impression appears on the carton or the carton and strapping and the remainder on the mark applied in accordance with order 15, 16 or 17.

PART 7―SEALING OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT, CONTAINER
SYSTEM UNITS, SHIPS, ESTABLISHMENT AND SAMPLES

Sealing of means of transport
	20.	Where prescribed goods (other than canned goods or goods derived from poultry or rabbits) are being moved between registered establishments or to a port, the loading doors and access ports to―
	(a)	the storage area of the transport;
	(b)	a separate security area within the transport;
	(c)	a separate cage or other receptacle, other than a container system unit, that is placed within or on the transport; or
	(d)	in the case of a load carried on an open tray ‑ the lashing or other approved method of securing the covering of the load,
shall be sealed with an official mark, the design of which is specified in Schedule 9 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders.

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 Schedule 9 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders; and
	(b)	not be removed from the establishment if it contains prescribed goods until the unit has been sealed in accordance with sub‑order 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 Schedule 10 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders.

Sealing of ships, etc.
	22.	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 Schedule 9 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders.

Sealing of establishment
	23.	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 Schedule 9 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders, in accordance with directions given by the Secretary.

Sealing of samples
	24.	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―
	(a)	Schedule 8 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders; or
	(b)	Schedule 9 to the Prescribed Goods (General) Orders.

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

Seals not to be broken
	26.	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.

Breakage of seals during transport
	27.	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

Prescribed goods to be date marked
	28.	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.

Date of packaging
	29.	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.

Code to be approved when used
	30.	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

Design of date of packaging other than for cans
	31.	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.

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

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

Penal provision

Expiry date or shelf life
	34.1	Subject to sub‑order 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 poultry 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

Implementation of emergency procedures
	35.1	Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that an exotic disease is present in―
	(a)	the carcase of a game animal at post‑mortem inspection of the carcase or its parts; or
	(b)	an area, district or holding, and the carcase of a game animal on a registered establishment is―
			  (i)	known to have, or is suspected of having, been exposed to the disease; and
			 (ii)	capable of being affected by or transmitting the disease,
an authorized officer, being a veterinary officer, shall implement, without delay, all relevant procedures in these Orders and any requirements determined by the Secretary.

	35.2	Where an authorized officer, being a veterinarian, is not present at the registered establishment, the implementation of procedures under sub-order 35.1 may be carried out by an authorized officer, being a meat inspector, unless contrary directions have been issued by the competent authority of the State or Territory in which the registered establishment is located.

Notification of State or Territory authorities
	36.	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.

Procedures to be implemented
	37.	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―
			  (i)	origin of the affected carcases of game animals;
			 (ii)	identity and location of any prescribed goods, other goods, vehicles, guard dogs or persons that have left the establishment at any time since the carcases of affected game animals entered the establishment; and
			(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 of 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.

Procedures to be maintained until advised otherwise
	38.	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.

Obligations of occupier of registered establishment
	39.	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―
			  (i)	origin of carcases of game animals received;
			 (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
			 (iv)	destination of carcases of game animals that have left the establishment; and
	(e)	provide any other assistance or information that an authorized officer requests.
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SCHEDULE			Order 11	

INSPECTION STAMP FOR POULTRY OR RABBITS

Design of stamp
	The inspection stamp referred to in order 11 for poultry 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:

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