Brand and identify livestock

Changing ownership of a property through sale or inheritance does not automatically transfer ownership of a brand that belongs to that property, even if the stock are included.

You must do one of the following three things if the property is sold:

• transfer the brand to the new property owner - see instructions below
• cancel the brand - see instructions below
• move the brand to a new property - see instructions below.

Transferring a three-letter brand automatically includes any associated distinctive (symbol) brands and earmarks, unless the brand's registered owner says otherwise.

When you must transfer a brand

Instances when you must apply to transfer ownership of a brand include the following:

• you sell the property and you agree to transfer the brand to the new owners
• the registered brand owner changes their name by marriage
• the brand owner dies
• the company that owns the registered brand is dissolved
• a part owner is added or removed.

How to transfer a brand

Follow the steps below to transfer ownership of a brand.

Step 1. Check you have the correct details for the registered owner

You can do this online by searching the NT brands register.

You can also fill in the NT brands register search form. You must submit it to the registrar and pay the fee (instructions are in the form):

NT brands register search form PDF (760.9 KB)
NT brands register search form DOCX (66.4 KB)

Step 2. Fill in the application

Fill in the application for transfer of brand.

Application for transfer of brand PDF (576.0 KB)
Application for transfer of brand DOCX (65.0 KB)

You must also include all the following information:

• the name and details of the new owner - if it is a company, you need their ABN or ACN
• names and signatures of current brand owners
• signatures of new brand owners - if a company, the directors must sign and state their position in the company - eg. director.

If a brand owner has died, the executor or administrator of their estate must sign the form, including their status as executor or administrator. You must attach a copy of the death certificate.

Step 3. Get permission from the property owner

The new brand owner must own the nominated property or have the permission from the property owner.

If they're not the owner, they must also fill in the owner's permission to use run form and submit it to the registrar.

Owner's permission to use run form PDF (181.4 KB)
Owner's permission to use run form DOCX (62.4 KB)

Step 4. Attach supporting documents if the brand will be used on Aboriginal land

Find out what you need to do to register a brand for use on Aboriginal land.

Step 5. Pay the fee

Check the biosecurity service fees.

You can attach a cheque made out to the Receiver of Territory Monies or fill in the credit card charge details in the application.

Step 6. Submit the application

Submit the application by mail or email to the registrar.

If you want to use your brand on a property which is not the one it's registered to, you must request to change the nominated property before you use the brand on the different property.

If you sell the property your brand is registered to and you want to keep the brand and move it to a new NT property, you must request to change the nominated property.

In both cases, fill in the request to change the run form and submit it to the registrar.

Request to change the run form PDF (550.6 KB)
Request to change the run form DOCX (63.4 KB)

If you're moving the brand to a new property, you must also send in the original brand certificates to be amended.

If you're not the owner of the property you want to nominate for your brand, you must get the owner of the land to fill in the owner's permission to use run form and submit it to the registrar.

Owner's permission to use run form PDF (181.4 KB)
Owner's permission to use run form DOCX (62.4 KB)

If you no longer need to register your brand to someone else's property - eg. cattle are no longer being agisted there or permission is withdrawn for any other reason - the property owner must fill in the owner's permission to use run revoked form and submit it to the registrar.

Owner's permission to use run revoked form PDF (177.8 KB)
Owner's permission to use run revoked form DOCX (45.2 KB)

If you want to change the position on the animal where the brand is applied, or add another one, fill in the request to change or add branding positions form and submit it to the registrar.

Request to change or add branding positions form PDF (809.1 KB)
Request to change or add branding positions form DOCX (102.7 KB)

If you want to change the position of your earmark, fill in the request to change earmark position form and submit it to the registrar.

Request to change earmark position form PDF (736.1 KB)
Request to change earmark position form DOCX (503.6 KB)

You will also need to send in your earmark branding certificate for updating.

If you lose your brand registration certificate, you must apply for a new one.

Fill in the request for replacement certificate form PDF (135.4 KB) and submit it to the registrar.

If you no longer want to keep a brand and want to cancel it, fill in the cancellation of brand form and submit it to the registrar.

When a 3 letter brand  is cancelled, the associated earmark, distinctive (symbol) brand and distinctive numerals (if applicable) are automatically cancelled along with the 3 letter brand.

Cancellation of brand form PDF (286.7 KB)
Cancellation of brand form DOCX (45.8 KB)

If you want to cancel just the distinctive (symbol) brand, fill in the application for cancellation of distinctive (symbol) brand only and submit it to the registrar.

Application for cancellation of distinctive (symbol) brand only PDF (118.6 KB)
Application for cancellation of distinctive (symbol) brand only DOCX (45.6 KB)

If you want to cancel just the registered earmark, fill in the application for cancellation of registered earmark only and submit it to the registrar.

Application for cancellation of registered earmark only PDF (20.2 KB)
Application for cancellation of registered earmark only DOCX (45.6 KB)

You must let the registrar know if your postal address changes, or the NT Brands Register does not have accurate details of your brand.

You can do this by filling in the update contact details form and submitting it to the registrar.

Update contact details form PDF (295.1 KB)
Update contact details form DOCX (47.0 KB)

If the property listed in the NT Brands Directory is no longer the property you're using your brand on, then you must fill in a request to change the run form.

Request to change the run form PDF (550.6 KB)
Request to change the run form DOCX (63.4 KB)

If the names of the registered owners of the brands have changed, then you must fill in an application for transfer of brand.

Application for transfer of brand PDF (576.0 KB)
Application for transfer of brand DOCX (65.0 KB)

Send your completed forms by mail or email to:

Brands Clerk
Livestock Biosecurity
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801
ntpic.brands@nt.gov.au