Livestock Movement and Identification in the NT

Introduction

An efficient means of regulating livestock identification and movements is an essential component of any disease control system. The livestock Act and Regulations was implemented in 2009 and is the legislation that regulates livestock identification and movements in the NT. LTS is administered by the Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR).

Under the Livestock Act and Regulations, all livestock owners are required to comply with the following five components to enable the identification and movement of identifiable livestock.

• A Property Identification Code (PIC),
• Brands,
• NT Waybill
• NT Health Certificate/waybill,
• National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
• Land Transport Standards (LTS) are the five components under the Livestock Act and Regulations that all livestock owners and transporters.

The Livestock Act defines ‘identifiable livestock’, which are: alpacas, llamas, bison, buffalo, cattle, camels, deer, emus, ostriches, goats, horses, mules, donkeys, pigs, poultry, pigeons and sheep.

The identification and movement requirements for livestock in the NT provide information to support market access and traceability in the case of an animal disease or chemical residue incident.

Failure to comply with the NT Livestock Act and Regulations could result in penalties which may include an infringement notice being issued or prosecution.

Property Identification Code (PIC)

All parcels of land in the NT that have identifiable livestock are required to register for a PIC with the Department.

PIC registration forms and further information on PIC’s can be located at https://www.nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/get-a-property-identification-code

NT PIC’s can be searched online at http://pic.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au

Brands

Under the NT Livestock Act a NT registered brand is required on all cattle over 8 months of age. The brand is required to be legible and in the correct position as stated on the registered brand certificate.

It is an offence to apply an earmark to a head of cattle unless the animal has a legible brand applied.

NT Brands can be searched online at http://brand.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au/

Brand/earmark application forms and further information on brands can be located at https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/brand-and-identify-livestock/livestock-brands-in-nt

NT Waybills

Prescribed travelling livestock that must have a waybill issued before the livestock begin travelling are; alpacas, llamas, bison, buffalo, camels, cattle, deer, goats, pigs and sheep.

1. A waybill must be issued for the primary livestock being moved by the owner, and
2. A separate waybill must be issued for any other livestock (not owned by the primary livestock owner) if they are being moved as a part of the same consignment.

Obligations of the owner of the livestock are to;

1. Issue completed waybill/waybills for the travelling livestock,
2. Deliver completed waybill/waybills to the person in charge,
3. Send the copy of completed waybill/waybills to the department within 28 days after the date which the waybill was issued.
4. Keep a copy of the waybill for at least 7 years.
5. At the request of an inspector during that period- show the inspector the copy.

Obligations of the person in charge are;

1. Sign the waybill;
2. Record on the waybill the date and time when the livestock begin travelling;
3. Have possession of the waybill during the entire period of travel;
4. At the request of an inspector at any time during the period of travel – show the inspector the waybill;
5. At the request of the owner of the property, while the livestock are within the boundaries of the property – show the property owner the waybill;
6. Deliver the livestock and waybill to the person named in the waybill to take delivery of the livestock;
7. Record on the waybill the date and time when the livestock are delivered to the person named in the waybill to take delivery.

Further information on waybills can be located athttps://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/moving-and-exporting-livestock/nt-waybills

NT Health Certificate/Waybill

All prescribed imported livestock entering NT are required to have a completed NT Health Certificate/Waybill issued before the livestock enter the NT.

Prescribed imported livestock are alpacas, bison, buffalo, camels, cattle, deer, goats, horses, llamas mules, donkeys, pigeons, pigs, poultry, sheep and honeybees.

The NT Health Certificate/Waybill must be endorsed by a governemt  inspector in the state they are originating from, this confirms the livestock meet the entry requirements into the NT.

The person in charge must have a completed copy of the NT Health Certificate/Waybill in their possession during the entire period of travel in the NT.

A completed copy of the NT Health Certificate/Waybill must be sent to the department prior to the livestock entering the NT. Details of where to send the completed copy can be found on the back of the NT health certificate.

A NT Health Certificate/Waybills must be retained for a period of 7 years by the receiving livestock owner.

Further information on NT Health Certificate & Waybill and the NT entry conditions for livestock can be located at https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/moving-and-exporting-livestock/moving-livestock-into-the-nt

National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)

The NLIS system in Australia was introduced by Industry and enacted in State and Territory legislation, it commenced in the NT on 1st July 2007 and is Australia's system for identifying and tracing livestock for food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

In the NT all cattle and buffalo must have an approved NLIS device and all sheep and goats must have an approved transaction tag attached to their right ear before they are moved off a property, regardless of where they are going. NLIS data for cattle and buffalo is recorded on the NLIS database.

IDENTIFICATION BEFORE MOVEMENT

The owner of the Property of Origin must ensure all livestock moving off the property have an NLIS device attached to the off side (right) ear before the livestock movement begins.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY OF DESTINATION

The owner of the property of destination must ensure that the NLIS information is entered on the NLIS database within 48 hours after the movement is completed.

Further information on NLIS requirements can be located at https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/brand-and-identify-livestock/nlis-in-the-nt

Livestock Transport Standards (LTS)

The Livestock Transport Standards (LTS) were incorporated in NT Legislation and commenced in 2012.

The aims of the LTS are to have a consistent approach and responsibility across Australia for all persons involved in the handling, selecting, loading and transporting of livestock.

The LTS is in 2 sections:

Part A - General Standards (for each species.)

1. Responsibilities and Planning.
2. Stock handling competency.
3. Transport vehicles and facilities.
4. Pre-transport selection.
5. Loading, transport and unloading.
6. Humane Destruction.

Part B - “Species Specific” Standards

It is a requirement of the LTS that all persons, who are involved in the handling, selecting, spelling, loading and transporting of livestock at all venues, must only load and handle livestock that are fit for the intended journey.

Further information on LTS requirements can be located at https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock/moving-and-exporting-livestock/livestock-welfare-and-land-transport-standards

Contacts

Head Office:  Sharon Kearney, Principal Livestock Regulatory Officer and Registrar
P: (08) 8999 2031 | M: 0401 112 031 | E: sharon.kearney@nt.gov.au

Alice Springs: Greg Crawford, Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer
P: (08) 8951 8125  |  M: 0401 118 125  |  E: greg.crawford@nt.gov.au

Tennant Creek: Tom Haines, Principal Livestock Biosecurity Officer
P: (08) 8962 4458  |  M: 0401 113 445  |  E: tom.haines@nt.gov.au

Katherine: Josh Haigh, Regional Livestock Biosecurity Officer
P: (08) 8973 9767  |  M: 0467 740 233  |  E: joshua.haigh@nt.gov.au

Darwin: Rob Wait, Livestock Biosecurity Officer
P: (08) 8999 2034 | M: 0401 115 802 |  E: rob.wait@nt.gov.au

Moving Livestock within the NT

When moving livestock within the NT, the following requirements apply:

* All cattle over the age 8 months must be branded 
** Permit from NT Parks and Wildlife may be required

Moving Livestock into the NT from Interstate

When moving livestock into the NT from Interstate, the following requirements apply:

*   Permit from NT Parks and Wildlife may be required.
**  Must have health certificate confirming they do not have European foulbrood, American foulbrood and small hive beetle.

You do not need a permit to move pigs, pigeons and poultry.

• http://brand.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au/
• http://pic.primaryindustry.nt.gov.au/
• https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock
• https://www.nlis.com.au/