Kangaroo welfare incident reporting game processing establishments
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1. PURPOSE To advise of the mandatory procedure for reporting Non Head Shot (NHS) [or Body Shot] kangaroos at game establishments. This notice supersedes AQIS Meat Notice 2009/01. 2. SCOPE This notice applies to all establishments processing field shot kangaroos for export. 3. DEFINITIONS
4. BACKGROUND The humane treatment of farmed and game animals supports the acceptability of Australian meat and meat products for trade. There is increased scrutiny of the game industry by consumers, animal welfare groups and major export markets that demand and expect very high standards of animal welfare applied to animals used for food. The Commonwealth Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides a legislative basis for the conservation-oriented control of the export and imports of wildlife and wildlife products. This Act is administered by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). It is the responsibility of individual States to manage and regulate wildlife, which includes the sustainable harvest of kangaroos. States that currently have approved Kangaroo Management Plans include Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. The plans are administered under Part 13A of the EPBC Act. Sub-section 303FO (3) (f) of the EPBC Act relates to the welfare of animals: “if the plan relates to the taking of live specimens that belong to a taxon specified in the regulations—the conditions that, under the regulations, are applicable to the welfare of the
A meeting was held in Canberra between the State Kangaroo Managers, DEWHA and AQIS to discuss the monitoring, reporting and follow up actions with respect to game animal welfare. It was agreed that AQIS on-plant staff are strategically located at export game processing establishments to monitor the implementation of the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (CoP) and requirements of the State Management Plans relating to zero tolerance policy. Furthermore, AQIS has a regulatory role at export registered establishments in ensuring that animal welfare requirements are in place. 5. THE NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE HUMANE SHOOTING OF KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. The State Kangaroo Management Plans are regulated under each State’s wildlife/conservation legislation. All management plans, with the exception of Tasmania, include compliance with the CoP (Attachment 1) as the minimum applicable standard. Tasmania has developed the Animal Welfare Standard for the Hunting of Wallabies in Tasmania (developed under the Animal Welfare Act 1993) which is referenced in, and attached to its Management Plan. This Standard is very similar to the CoP. The CoP was developed cooperatively by the States and the Commonwealth to ensure that all persons intending to harvest kangaroos are aware of the standard of humane conduct required. 6. IMPORTING COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS It is also the expectation of importing countries of both meat and skins that animals are treated humanely and that AQIS as the export regulator and certifier has systems in place to verify and enforce Australian and Importing Country animal welfare requirements. 7. PROCEDURES AT EXPORT REGISTERED GAME ESTABLISHMENTS The establishment’s approved arrangement must cover identification, reporting and handling of NHS carcases and include the following outcomes: 7.1 All NHS carcases and carcase parts must be removed from processing either on arrival (if identifiable) or after hide removal. 7.2 All NHS carcases must be clearly identified and reported to the relevant State authority for any appropriate follow-up investigation. 7.2 Skins from NHS carcases must be condemned. 7.4 NHS carcases are NOT eligible for either human consumption or pet food production and must be condemned. 8. RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 8.1 Establishment Management The establishment’s approved arrangement must also cover reporting requirements as regards to non-compliance with the CoP and zero tolerance policy, including the following: 8.1.1 Develop and implement an incident reporting system ensuring that all NHS carcases are appropriately identified and reported to the relevant State Authority (see Appendix 1) and AQIS On-Plant Veterinarian (OPV).
8.1.2 The incident reporting system must also include feedback to the shooters/harvesters/chiller box operators as applicable and appropriate. 8.1.3 Liaise with AQIS OPV and fill out the incident report (for each animal welfare (AW) compromised lot daily) as per Appendix 2 (which sets a guideline for information that may be required by the States for follow up). 8.1.4 Document actions taken and maintain appropriate records which will be available for AQIS audit/scrutiny.
8.2.1 Provide game processing establishments and AQIS with guidance for reporting and advice on any additional information required. 8.2.2 Take appropriate follow up action on reports received from establishment management and/or AQIS. 8.2.3 Where evidence is provided for animals shot interstate, but processed at establishment located in the State, liaise with and take appropriate follow up action with the interstate counterparts. 8.2.4 Provide feedback to AQIS personnel (OPV/Area Technical Manager (ATM)/Field Operations Manager (FOM), Canberra Office) and establishment management on the progress/outcome of investigations taken.
8.3.1 Advise establishment management of any NHS carcases (if missed by establishment operators) 8.3.2 In consultation with the ATM, assess and approve the establishment’s animal welfare incident reporting system. 8.3.3 In consultation with the ATM, complete all fields of the animal welfare incident report, as per Appendix 2, if the establishment has not effectively addressed the issue through their Approved Arrangement (AA). - For example, where the establishment fails to follow correct reporting procedures, complete an incident report for each AW compromised lot of carcases processed daily as per Appendix 2. 8.3.4 Notify the relevant State Authority within 3 working days (preferably within 24 hours) of any non-compliance being identified. 8.3.5 Retain the carcase(s) under appropriate control at the request of relevant State Authority to ensure it retains its identity, security and is not a source of contamination to other carcases. 8.3.6 Provide an electronic copy of any reports received by management (as per 8.1.1) or generated as per 8.3.3 each to:
8.3.7 Take photographs of NHS carcases as appropriate (utilising digital cameras supplied by Dubbo Store). - Ensure that all photographs taken have the harvester and carcase tags clearly visible and can be clearly reproducible when the report is transmitted by email or print. - For consistency photos should be named and saved using the following protocol: Establishment number, lot number, tag number, title and the date (e.g. Est0999_Lot 22_X12345_NHS_stomach_ yyyymmdd), and attach to the incident report. - AQIS staff are reminded that photographic and written evidence collected for the incident reports are for regulatory purposes only and must not be circulated to any other third party. 8.3.8 Monitor and record any animal welfare incidents and any failure to report (as per 8.1.1) through the National Establishment Verification System (NEVS) Form 4, including actions taken by the company and communicate with, including providing appropriate feedback to, the ATM and the company. 8.3.9 Audit the establishment’s reporting system (e.g. feedback as per 8.1.2) at regular intervals and request corrective action/s as required if the system is non-compliant. 8.4 Area Technical Manager 8.4.1 Assess and approve the establishment’s AA as regards to animal welfare reporting and actions taken. 8.4.2 Follow up any incidents with management and verify actions taken eg. Feedback to shooters, reports sent to State Authorities, etc. 8.4.3 During routine monthly audits assess carcases for compliance with animal welfare requirements. Non-conformances must be recorded in NEVS Form 4. 8.4.4 Provide feedback to OPV and FOM. Carol Sheridan National Manager Export Meat Food Exports Division Biosecurity Services Group References
Appendix 1: State Contact Details for Reporting Kangaroo Animal Welfare Incidents
Appendix 2: Guideline for Kangaroo Animal Welfare Incident Reporting Kangaroo Animal Welfare Incident Report ALL FIELDS to be completed by AQIS OPV for any incidents of Non Head Shot (Body Shot) carcases Send a copy each to: Relevant State contact person, ATM, Establishment Management, and Canberra Office. PLACE WHERE GAME CARCASE/S HAVE BEEN INSPECTED Establishment Name: Number:
Address: State:
Telephone: Fax:
AQIS OPV Name: ESTABLISHMENT CONTACT PERSON FOR INCIDENT (if reported by Est. Mgt) Name: Designation: Contact Address: Telephone: Fax: Date:
Detailed description of incident: (Provide an accurate description of where on the carcase the animal was shot) HARVESTER & CARCASE DETAILS (All fields must be completed) Harvester name: Harvester licence number: State:
Site location (carcase property of origin): Number of carcases in lot: Number of NHS carcases condemned: Harvest date: Process date: Carcase tag number (NPWS): Other relevant information:
Who (e.g. company, state authority, ATM) incident reported to and time of reporting: High quality reproducible photographic evidence must be included with this report: AQIS OPV Must advise Relevant State Contact, ATM, FOM & Canberra Office: ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I, the undersigned, agree that all photographic and written evidence collected pertaining to this incident report is for regulatory purposes only and must not be circulated to any third party, except as defined. Full name (Please print clearly): _______________________________ Signed: ……………………………………………… Date:…………………………… Est. No.____________Est. Name _____________________________ Location __________ Inspecting Officer: ________________________________________ Date ___/____/____ RHS LHS 
Species: ……………………… Sex: ………………………. Weight (kg):……………… Tag # …………………………. Shooter : ……………………… Photo #................................... • = Bullet Entry * = Bullet Exit //// = Bruising Notes: 
I, the undersigned, agree that all photographic and written evidence collected pertaining to this incident report is for regulatory purposes only and must not be circulated to any third party, except as defined.
//// = Bruising Notes: HS LHS
Additional comments (PRINT CLEARLY): I, the undersigned, agree that all photographic and written evidence collected pertaining to this incident report is for regulatory purposes only and must not be circulated to any third party, except as defined. Full name (Please print clearly): _______________________________ Signed: ……………………………………………… Date:…………………………… 1 National code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes Page of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||