Livestock and animals

Camels

Camels do not require any wildlife permits.

Property identification code

You must have a property identification code if you keep camels, regardless of the size of your property, the number of livestock you have, or if they are pets.

Read how to get a property identification code.

Moving camels

You must fill in a Northern Territory (NT) waybill if you want to move camels off the property where they are kept in the NT.

Read more about NT waybills and moving and exporting livestock.

Diseases

Both domestic and feral camels in Australia are free from most serious livestock diseases, although they carry common camel diseases which can be easily treated.

For more information get the review of camel diseases in Central Australia PDF (452.5 KB).

Read more about feral camels.

Management publications

If you want to know more about how to manage camels there are publications to help you. These include:

These publications give you general information about managing camels in the NT. If you need more specific advice you might need to speak to your local vet or a department expert.

Camel food plants in Central Australia

Camels eat more than 80% of the common plant species found in Central Australia. Some preferred plant species may need to be protected against overgrazing.

Read the Technote palatability scoring of forage plants in Central Australia PDF (105.8 KB).

Keeping emus and ostrich

If you plan to keep emus, ostriches or other livestock, you need to know the rules for property identification codes (PIC) and permits.

Property identification codes

You need a Property Identification Code (PIC) for your property if you keep emus, ostriches, poultry, pigeons, or other livestock, no matter:

  • the size of your property
  • the number of animals you have or
  • whether they are pets.

Find out how to get a PIC.

Keeping emus as pets

You must have a permit to keep an emu in the Northern Territory.

For further information go to keeping emus as pets.

Keeping pigs

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis has been detected in Australian piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.

A small number of positive cases have been detected in feral pigs in the Northern Territory. Surveillance is continuing.

Report anything suspicious in animals by calling 1800 675 888.

Find out more about Japanese encephalitis.

African swine fever

African swine fever has been confirmed in countries close to Australia including Timor Leste.

Early reporting is critical for containing the disease. Report any sick or dead pigs to your vet or by calling 1800 675 888.

Find out more about African swine fever.

There are no commercial pig farms in the Northern Territory (NT) but there are a number of hobby producers.

Many people in rural areas keep a few pigs for food or as pets in their backyard.

Caring for your pigs

If you raise pigs at home, you must meet minimum welfare requirements.

The Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Pigs provides guidelines on how to manage all types of farmed pigs.

This includes making sure pigs:

  • have access to the right food and plenty of clean, fresh water
  • have shelter and protection from extreme weather
  • can stand, stretch and lie down
  • can socially interact with other pigs
  • are handled gently
  • are protected from injury or disease
  • get immediate treatment if they have an injury or a disease.

Get the code of practice on the CSIRO Publishing website.

The Livestock Act 2008 and the Animal Welfare Act 1999 control livestock in the NT.

Under these laws, owners of an identifiable property with any livestock (including pet pigs) must have a property identification code (PIC).

This lets livestock biosecurity officers identify relevant animal owners quickly and easily if an emergency or exotic animal disease breaks out.

If you keep pigs on your property, or move them into or out of the NT, you will need a property identification code.

Find out how to get a PIC.

You must meet biosecurity requirements if you want to move pigs from one property to another within the NT.

Read about moving and exporting livestock.

Pigs need a balanced diet of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Commercial pig mixes meet these requirements at each stage of growth.

Good pasture can replace about 1kg of pig mix per day for dry sows, boars and older grower pigs. Pasture can also benefit pigs by providing:

  • exercise
  • sunshine
  • fresh air
  • social interaction.

Keep pig food and clean drinking water separate from wallows and manure to maintain a hygienic feeding environment.

Rules

There are rules on what food you can and can't give to pigs. Many human foods are prohibited. Prohibited pig feed is called swill.

Swill feeding is illegal because meat can carry exotic diseases, such as African swine fever or foot and mouth disease. These diseases can devastate livestock industries.

What you can't feed pigs

You must not feed any of the following to pigs:

  • meat or meat products
  • anything that has been in contact with meat
  • dairy products from overseas
  • pies, sausage rolls, bacon and cheese rolls, pizza, deli meats and table scraps
  • household, commercial or industrial waste, including restaurant food and discarded cooking oils
  • anything that has been in contact with prohibited pig feed via collection, storage or transport in contaminated containers such as:
    • meat trays
    • takeaway food containers.

What you can feed pigs

You can give pigs the following if they are Australian made and haven't been in contact with meat:

  • fruit
  • vegetables
  • eggs
  • cereals
  • milk
  • milk products.

To find out more, read the Agnote Don't feed swill to pigs PDF (160.8 KB).

Housing for pigs is called a pen. When building a pen, make sure it is suitable for the NT climate. For example, it should be cool, well-ventilated and have suitable drainage.

Before building a pen, think about the following:

Location

  • Where will it be?
  • Is it near a dwelling?
  • Is it close to neighbours?

Shelter

When building a pen:

  • include a large roof overhang or blinds to protect from sun and rain
  • align the long axis east to west to minimise heat absorption.

Flooring

  • A slatted timber floor or concrete floor is recommended because they are easier to clean.
    • Slatted timber floors must be high enough off the ground to allow faeces to fall through.
    • If using a timber floor, check whether termites could easily invade as they will weaken or destroy it.
    • Pour concrete floors with a gradient so that urine drains away easily.
  • Pay attention to the surface finish. Very smooth surfaces can cause slipping injuries. Rough, cracked and pitted surfaces are difficult to clean, and allow the build-up of faeces and overgrowth of bacteria, fungi and parasites.

Bedding

You can use the following for bedding:

  • straw
  • soft hay
  • wood shavings.

Space requirements

The model code of practice provides guidance on minimum space requirements for indoor housing:

  • dry sows in groups - 1.2 to 1.5m2 per sow
  • lactating sows with piglets - 4 to 6m2 per sow
  • boars - 2m2 per boar.

Breeding pigs

If you keep female pigs for breeding (sows), you will need to provide a farrowing pen.

Farrowing pens are important so that the sow:

  • has a place to deliver and feed her litter
  • is less likely to trample and crush her piglets
  • can lie down slowly and carefully, to protect the piglets.

Farrowing pens also have a ‘creep’ area where piglets can retreat. This is also where piglets are introduced to solid food at around four weeks old.

Farrowing pens should be 5.m2 per sow.

Adult pig with piglets shown inside a farrowing pen

Credit: Queensland Government

To find out more about farrowing pens, go to the Queensland Government website.

Make sure the pen is always clean. This will help control pig diseases.

Pigs produce a large amount of manure that needs regular removal. Manure attracts a lot of flies, which can create environmental concerns.

When a group of pigs leaves a pen, clean thoroughly with a pressure hose, brush and detergent. You should then disinfect it with a suitable product that kills bacteria and viruses.

Leave the pen unstocked for a week after cleaning before introducing new pigs.

Pigs are prone to heat stress in temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius. Light-skinned pigs need access to shade while in pasture, as they are vulnerable to sunburn.

During the build-up, check drinking water temperatures and add ice blocks if necessary.

Attach sprinklers and fans on the roof to optimise cooling.

Digging

Pigs love to dig for roots and tubers, as well as to create cool holes to sleep in.

They also enjoy wallowing and will dig in damp ground, or near a water source to create a muddy puddle to lie in. They will tip over unsecured water containers if they can.

Applying nose rings to pigs will reduce their capacity to dig up the ground and can help to reduce environmental damage.

Another way to deter excessive ‘rooting’ is to provide solid vegetables for pigs to chew on such as sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips.

Parasites

Pigs are host to a large number of internal parasites (worms) that infest their lungs, kidneys and intestines. Worms can damage other organs when parasite larvae migrate around the body.

Most parasite eggs pass out of the pig’s body in their faeces. If pigs graze pasture or eat from the same area where they pass their faeces, there is a high chance that they will be infested with worms.

While the most important way to control parasites is regularly removing faeces, you may also need to consider a wormer for your pigs.

Diseases

Always practise good hygiene after handling pigs to help prevent the spread of diseases between pigs and from pigs to people.

This includes:

  • washing hands thoroughly with soap and water
  • changing clothes if they are soiled.
  • removing pig dung or yard mud from shoes or boots using detergent and a scrubbing brush
  • consulting your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms after contact with potentially infected animals.

Report signs of diseases in pigs

To report unusual signs of disease in pigs, call the 24-hour emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.

Consult your veterinarian if you notice signs of diseases in other animals that may have been in contact with sick pigs.

Find out more about notifiable diseases and how to report them.

Shared or zoonotic diseases in Australia

Pigs can transmit potentially debilitating diseases to humans and other animals.

Get information about animal diseases that can affect people.

The following shared diseases affecting pigs and people have been detected in Australia.

Brucellosis

A bacterial disease causing severe long term illness, fever and influenza type symptoms.

Read more about swine brucellosis.

Q Fever

A serious bacterial disease that causes severe influenza like symptoms which can be fatal. Infection is via contaminated animal tissue (especially intestinal tissue, faeces, urine and foetal fluids).

Q fever is mainly spread by inhalation including during high pressure hosing, slaughtering animals and dressing carcasses.

Leptospirosis

A bacterial disease that can cause fever, kidney disease, jaundice and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) which can be fatal.

Leptospirosis is found in animal tissue, urine and commonly in swamp water. It enters the body through cuts or abrasions and contact with the lining of the nose, mouth and eyes.

Melioidosis

A bacterial disease that commonly affects livestock and can be passed onto humans through contact with infected animals or soil.

Swine influenza

Swine influenza is a highly contagious, rapid onset, respiratory disease of pigs.

Pigs are known to have the potential to mix different strains of influenza viruses together to produce new strains that may be able to infect humans.

Signs of pigs infected with Swine Influenza include:

  • high fever
  • discharge from eyes and nose
  • sneezing
  • breathing difficulties
  • barking cough.

Keeping poultry and pigeons

There are no large commercial poultry farms in the Northern Territory (NT).

A few small producers do sell free-range eggs. Many small flocks are kept for household supplies.

Property identification codes

You must have a property identification code for your property if you keep poultry, pigeons or other livestock, regardless of the size of your property, the number of animals you have, or if they are pets.

Find out how to get a property identification code.

Moving poultry and pigeons

There are no biosecurity requirements on moving poultry and pigeons into or around the NT, however you must follow the welfare standards for transporting poultry.

Read more about moving and exporting livestock.

Keeping pigeons

For more information about keeping pigeons go to the following websites:

Exhibiting poultry

Find out more by watching the exhibition bird biosecurity video on YouTube.

You can also read the national biosecurity manual for exhibition poultry on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

Keeping and moving sheep

In the Northern Territory (NT), you must follow certain rules to keep, buy, swap, sell or move sheep.

You must have a property identification code (PIC) and follow the National Livestock Identification System.

If you're keeping, buying, swapping, selling or moving sheep, you must also:

Keep up to date with notifiable diseases in animals and how to report them. You should also read about managing animal health and other diseases.

What breeds you can import

Due to the risk of bluetongue virus in the NT, permits with certain conditions may be issued to bring:

  • purebred damara sheep for slaughter or to keep
  • other breeds for slaughter only during the dry season.

Bluetongue virus

Bluetongue virus is a viral infection spread by midges and can result in severe illness.

It has been found in northern areas of the NT since the 1970s.

Unlike other sheep breeds, damara sheep do not develop the virus from the current NT strains.

This is why there are tougher conditions to get a permit to import other breeds.

To monitor its presence and other livestock viruses, the NT is involved in the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program.

Move sheep within the NT

To move sheep from your NT property to another NT property, you must submit an waybill.

Read more about moving livestock within the NT.

Move sheep into the NT

To move sheep into the NT, you must apply for a permit. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Contact your local livestock biosecurity officer.

Step 2. Fill in the application.

Application to import sheep into the NT PDF (799.7 KB)
Application to import sheep into the NT DOCX (64.5 KB)

Step 3. Fill in the NT health certificate and waybill form.

NT Health certificate and waybill form DOCX (61.8 KB)
NT Health certificate and waybill form  PDF (1000.6 KB)

Step 4. Email both documents to ntpic.brands@nt.gov.au.

Move sheep out of the NT

To move sheep out of the NT to another state, you must submit an NT waybill.

You must also follow the relevant state's entry rules.

Read more about moving livestock out of the NT.

Contact

For more information, contact your local livestock biosecurity officer.

Keeping and moving goats

If you want to move goats around, into or out of the Northern Territory (NT), you must follow certain rules.

To move goats:

Before you move them, remember to tag them using the National Livestock Identification System.

If you keep goats on your property, or move them into or out of the NT, you must have a property identification code (PIC). Find out how to get a PIC.

Health and management

You need good management practices to successfully farm goats in the NT.

Goats are susceptible to worms and can be resistant to worm drench treatments. An effective drenching program is essential.

For more information about raising goats in the NT, read the following agnotes:

You should also keep up to date with notifiable diseases in animals and animal health and other diseases.

Contact

For more information, contact livestock biosecurity.

Animal health and diseases

Cattle

To read about livestock research projects, go to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

Deer, alpacas and llamas

If you want to import, keep or export deer, llamas and alpacas in the Northern Territory (NT), you must get a wildlife permit from the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory.

Find out how to apply for a permit to:

Temporary permits

If you want to bring any of these animals into the NT for a short time, such as for a circus, you will only need an import and export permit.

Find out how to apply for a permit to import or export wildlife.

Property identification code

You must have a property identification code if you keep deer, alpacas or llamas, regardless of the size of your property, the number of livestock you have, or if they are pets.

Read how to get a property identification code.

Moving animals

You must complete a waybill if you want to move deer, alpacas and llamas off the property where they are kept in the NT.

Read more about moving and exporting livestock.

Publications

You can read publications and information sheets about these topics.

They are provided as general information only and specific professional advice should be sought on your particular situation.

Crocodile farming and trade

If you farm and trade crocodiles and crocodile products in the Northern Territory (NT), there are regulations you must follow.

You must get a permit to keep or trade in crocodiles and their parts in the NT and you must also comply with the Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile.

For guidelines on development of the industry, read the crocodile farming industry strategic plan.

Code of practice

The NT has adopted the national code of practice for the humane treatment of wild and farmed crocodiles. This forms part of the NT crocodile management program.

It covers activities for individuals and companies who have been granted a licence to do all of the following things:

  • capture or take crocodiles and eggs from the wild on private or public land
  • keep crocodiles for commercial raising or captive breeding
  • kill crocodiles
  • incubate eggs in controlled conditions
  • sell live crocodiles as part of the pet trade.

The code does not apply to facilities where captive crocodiles are displayed for scientific exhibition or education purposes.

To get the code of practice go to the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.

Permits

You need a permit to keep most native wildlife, including crocodiles. These permits are issued by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the NT.

Find out more about permits for keeping protected and prohibited wildlife.

You need a separate permit to take or harvest crocodiles or eggs from the wild. Find out how to get a permit to take or interfere with wildlife.

If you want to farm crocodiles you will need both types of permits. Contact the Parks and Wildlife permits section if you need further information.

Importing from overseas

You must get two permits to bring crocodile products into the NT direct from overseas.

You must get an import permit from the Australian Government. To find out more, go to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.

You must also get an NT import permit, as outlined above under Importing within Australia.

If the product is first imported to somewhere else in Australia, only an NT import permit is required.

Crocodile farms in the NT

There are seven crocodile farms in the NT, from hatcheries to major tourism ventures.

Crocodile biosecurity

There are detailed guidelines for maintaining hygiene standards on crocodile farms.

Get the guidelines for biosecurity of NT crocodile farms: hygiene procedures and biosecurity concerns PDF (61.8 KB).

Disposing of dead stock

After a natural disaster, emergency or losses from disease, you must dispose of dead animals in a way that doesn't threaten public health or the environment.

Inappropriately dumping carcases risks polluting watercourses, producing smells, spreading disease and impacting the community.

After a disaster

Where disposal of carcases after a disaster may affect towns or where people live, they should be buried or disposed of in a landfill.

Speak to your local council about solid waste landfills. Some councils do not accept dead stock in landfill.

Losses from disease

If stock have died from an emergency animal disease, you must dispose of them according to the Animal Health Australia's Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN).

Read more about notifiable diseases in animals and how to report them.

To find out about AUSVETPLAN and responding to an emergency animal disease, go to the Animal Health Australia website.

For more information talk to your local veterinarian, livestock biosecurity or make a free call to the Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Honey bees and beekeeping

The Northern Territory (NT) has a small but important honey bee industry.

There are also many unmanaged wild bee colonies that exist throughout the NT.

If you are a beekeeper, you must be aware of your responsibilities and biosecurity obligations.

This includes protocols for managing your beehives and protecting them from pests and diseases.

From 22 May 2025, the Agriculture Legislation Amendment Regulations 2025 came into place. Read about the regulation changes.

Under the Livestock Act 2008 and Livestock Regulations 2009, you must register yourself, your hive manager if applicable, your beehive numbers and all locations.

If you have native bees, you don't have to register but you are strongly encouraged.

Register or renew online

You can register or renew online via Territory Services.

Apply online

Register by email

Step 1. Fill in the beekeeper registration form PDF (759.8 KB).

Step 2. Submit your form to honeybee@nt.gov.au.

After you register

Once registered, you will be given an unique hive registration code (HRC).

You must display this code on all your hives for easy identification and tracking, should a biosecurity event occur.

This marking must be:

  • clear and legible
  • at least 20mm in height
  • placed on the beehive where it is easily visible.

Your registration will be for 2 years before you must renew it. Make sure to keep your information up to date, including:

  • locations and any movements of apiary sites
  • contact details of the hive owner and hive manager
  • change of hive ownership or numbers.

You are required to do biosecurity and disease management training within 6 months of your initial registration. You are encouraged to renew it alongside your registration.

Find out more about this biosecurity training in the 'Get training' section below.

Send your completion certificate to honeybee@nt.gov.au.

If you no longer own and manage bees, you can cancel your registration online via Territory Services.

Under the Act and regulations, you must notify the department when you:

  • transfer ownership of your beehives to another person
  • no longer own bees.

Apply online

You can update, or amend, your registration online via Territory Services.

Updates could include:

  • updating legal owner details
  • adding secondary contacts
  • updating hive numbers
  • notifying of hive movements.

Apply online

Move or transfer beehives

Under the Act and regulations, you must notify the department when you:

  • move your own beehives to another property
  • transfer ownership of your beehives to another person.

You can apply either online through the link above or by email.

Apply by email

Step 1. Fill in the relevant form:

Step 2. Email the form to honeybee@nt.gov.au.

Bee pests and disease can be spread through the movement of infected bees, products (including honey) and used equipment.

The NT is a declared protected area for honey bees. To prevent the spread of bee pests and diseases to the NT, importing bees, apiary equipment and bee products is strictly controlled.

Under the Act and regulations, you cannot bring beehives including used brood boxes, supers and nucleus hives into the NT.

For other allowable bees or bee-related products, you must apply for a declared area movement permit and get a government-endorsed health certificate.

The permit and health certificate must:

  • be approved prior to any movements
  • travel with the items
  • be kept for a minimum of 12 months.

Apply for permit and certificate

Step 1. Fill in the declared area movement permit application to import bees, bee products and used equipment DOCX (69.9 KB).

Step 2: Have your supplier fill in the relevant health certificate:

Step 3: Email the completed forms to honeybee@nt.gov.au.

Allow 5 working days for processing.

Protecting your beehive

Biosecurity is a shared responsibility between all beekeepers, who must take steps to minimise the risk of pest and disease spread both within their own apiaries and to others.

Every beekeeper must be familiar with bee pests and diseases; how to accurately monitor, minimise and manage them whether they are notifiable or not.

Early detection allows timely management responses and more successful outcomes.

To protect your beehives from pests and diseases, you should:

  • abide by the laws protecting the industry
  • be familiar with pests and diseases
    • what they look like
    • their symptoms
    • their impact
  • use clean equipment and practice good hygiene
  • use isolation/barrier techniques when introducing new bees or hives
  • inspect hives regularly (at least 4 times per year) and report notifiable pests and diseases immediately
  • submit regular hive inspection reports (see below)
  • take part in the annual Bee Pest Blitz program.

For more information, go to the BeeAware website to get the:

Surveillance and reporting

As an NT beekeeper, you are encouraged to voluntarily submit honey bee pest and disease surveillance reports.

Absence reports assist in maintaining NT pest and disease freedoms while ensuring any positive detections are identified as early as possible.

You can submit a voluntary beehive inspection report at any time online through Territory Services.

Go to Territory Services

Record keeping

Record keeping is a crucial part of beekeeping and effective biosecurity management for both recreational and commercial beekeepers.

Accurate records are essential for tracing the source of disease and should be kept for all hive management actions and observations. They are also a requirement of the Biosecurity Code of Practice (opens in a new tab).

Records may be requested by an inspector at any time.

NT Beekeepers are required to keep records of:

  • dates of hive inspections and any observations, such as presence or absence of any pests or diseases
  • all actions taken to manage any pests or diseases, including:
    • chemical treatments
    • mechanical methods
  • any tests for the presence of American foulbrood
  • dates and details of movements of hives
  • introductions of any bees, used hives or hive parts, including dates and supplier
  • any biosecurity-related training.

There are many pests and diseases that can harm your bees and the industry.

Some of these pests and diseases are notifiable in the NT. This means you must report them if you suspect or confirm their presence.

These pests and diseases include:

Pest/disease NT notifiable Australian endemicExoticEmergency
Varroa mites (Varroa destructor or V. jacobsoni) (Varoosis) Yes Yes   
Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) Yes Yes   
American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) Yes Yes   
European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius) Yes Yes   
Braula fly (Braula coeca) Yes Yes   
Asian honey bee (Apis cerana)  Yes Yes   
Red Dwarf Honey Bee (Apis florea) Yes   Yes  
Tropilaelaps mite (Tropilaelaps clareae or T. mercedesae) Yes    Yes
Tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) Yes   Yes  

To report them, you can either:

You should also be familiar with other pests that are present in and out of Australia. For more information about all pests and diseases, go to the BeeAware website (opens in a new tab).

Varroa mite resources

Read the following resources to learn more about the varroa mite and its impact.

National Varroa Mite Management Program

Varroa mites are now in Australia, and they’ll change how European honey bees are managed.

The T2M plan will help Australian beekeepers, pollination-dependent industries and the community learn the best ways to reduce the impact.

Read more on the Varroa website (opens in a new tab).

Interstate varroa mite heat mapping

Use the following heat maps to see where the mite has been detected across different states.

These maps can help beekeepers, biosecurity teams and agricultural departments monitor the spread.

The NSW Varroa mite heat map has been discontinued as of Tuesday 23rd September 2025. The map was no longer considered representative of the extent of Varroa across NSW.

Swarms

NT beekeepers should take reasonable measures to reduce swarming within managed hives. Wild honeybee colonies cannot be easily monitored for pests and diseases.

Beekeepers who collect wild swarms should submit a sample (minimum 50 adult bees) to NT Entomology to confirm the species, check for mites and record details of the location of the swarm.

Barrier methods should be used for captured swarms to ensure the colony is pest and disease free. Remember to update your registration when your hive numbers increase or decrease.

Report a swarm

You can report a swarm or wild bee nest online via Territory Services.

Go to Territory Services

Swarm capture services

For swarm capture in the Darwin region, go to the Darwin Bee Removal, Swarm Catcher & Apiarist website (opens in a new tab).

For all other areas, contact the Bee Biosecurity Officer:

Sample collection and identification services

Free identification and advice services are available to the general public.

If you find or suspect a pest or disease in a beehive, organise submitting a sample and/or photographs for identification and further investigation by contacting your local plant biosecurity office.

Annual Bee Pest Blitz program

The annual Bee Pest Blitz program encourages beekeepers to inspect their hives for pests and diseases and provide reports.

The program provides awareness of:

  • exotic and established bee pests
  • the importance of beehive inspections using nationally-agreed surveillance techniques
  • consistent record keeping and reporting of results

It also aims to increase understanding of roles and responsibilities and the shared culture in biosecurity.

For more information, go to the Bee Pest Blitz website (opens in a new tab).

National Bee Pest Surveillance program

To prevent new exotic pest occurrences, the National Bee Pest Surveillance program monitors locations that are most likely to be entry points.

It involves a range of surveillance methods conducted at sea and air ports throughout Australia.

This program is co-ordinated by Plant Biosecurity and Plant Health Australia. For more information, go to the Plant Health Australia website (opens in a new tab).

To learn more about pests and diseases, you can complete the following online training courses.

Pest and disease training is required as part of your NT registration and must be completed within 6 months of initial registration or renewal.

Occasionally, Plant Biosecurity also offers training and development opportunities to registered beekeepers. To receive this information, make sure your contact details are up to date.

Biosecurity for Beekeepers

Completing the Biosecurity for Beekeepers course is a requirement of your registration. It can be delivered face to face to groups by request.

The course provides guidance on how to care for your bees in line with the code of practice.

It includes information on the main pest threats and shows you how to check your beehives for signs of pests and diseases.

This course is designed for people with a basic understanding of beekeeping practices, but is helpful to all beekeepers.

For more information and to register, go to the BeeAware website (opens in a new tab).

Varroa Basics course

The Varroa Basics is a free online course that will help you with varroa surveillance. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

For more information and to enrol, go to the Varroa basics course (opens in a new tab).

Varroa Mite Introduction to Management course

Introduction to Varroa Management introduces the key aspects for understanding Varroa, assisting beekeepers to prepare for and manage this worldwide pest of honey bees.

There are 9 modules, each with a short quiz.

Each topic can typically be completed in 20 to 30 minute blocks.

You can log in and out of the training platform as needed to complete the training. It does not have to be completed in one session.

Step 1. Go to the BOLT platform (opens in a new tab).

Step 2. Login or create a new account.

Step 3. Click on the ‘Browse Learning’ tab.

Step 4. Click ‘Introduction to Varroa Management’.

Step 5. Click ‘Enrol’ to start the training.

If you sell your honey, you must register as a food business (opens in a new tab).

If you plan to sell or take honey interstate, ensure you are aware of the biosecurity entry requirements of that state.

Contacts

For further information about beekeeping in the NT, contact Plant Biosecurity or email honeybee@nt.gov.au.

Get a property identification code

Your property identification code (PIC) is an unique 8-character code that identifies the property where your livestock is kept.

The information is kept by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Northern Territory (NT), or its counterparts in other states and territories.

A PIC is permanently registered against a specific parcel of land.

In the NT, PICs begin with the letter T, for Territory. It's followed by 3 more letters, followed by 4 numbers - eg. TCDG0066.

If you're a beekeeper and need to register your beehives, read honey bees and beekeeping.

Who needs a PIC

You must have a PIC if you keep any of the following livestock on your property in the NT:

  • alpacas and llamas
  • bison
  • buffalo and cattle
  • camels
  • crocodiles
  • deer
  • emus and ostriches
  • goats
  • horses (equine - including ponies, miniature horses, mules and donkeys)
  • pigs
  • poultry (chooks, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, peafowl, quail, turkeys) and pigeons
  • sheep.

It doesn't matter how:

  • big or small the property is - from suburban house block to pastoral station
  • much livestock you have or even if they are just pets.

If you're keeping any of the above livestock, then you must have a registered PIC.

If you have livestock on agistment, check with the property owner to make sure they have a PIC.

Biosecurity management plan

If you keep or own livestock on a NT property, you can choose to have a biosecurity management plan (BMP).

A BMP helps protect your property, livestock and the wider NT industry from biosecurity risks.

A BMP is voluntary, but it is recommended.

Read more about BMPs.

What it's for

Your PIC is a biosecurity tool to help the government manage any outbreaks of disease which could spread beyond the property where they are first found.

It helps identify where livestock have come from or are kept. It also helps locate neighbouring properties so owners can be notified quickly of a potential disease threat in the area.

The PIC is an essential part of the National Livestock Identification System.

Read more about moving and exporting livestock or the National Livestock Identification System.

Registration information

When you register your property for a PIC, you must provide all of the following information:

  • names and details of property owners and other contact people
  • location and legal description such as NT portion/section/lot and street address
  • species and number of livestock held on the property.

The code is permanently attached to the parcel of land and stays with the property, not with the owner.

It can't be transferred to another property. If you sell the property, the code remains with it.

How to register or update a PIC

You can apply for a new PIC registration or update existing property details online, by email or mail.

Online

You can apply online via Territory Services.

Go to Territory Services

Email or mail

Step 1. Fill in the form

Step 2. Submit form by email or mail.

NTPIC.Brands@nt.gov.au

Chief inspector of livestock
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801

Registration certificate

When you register, you will be sent a certificate which lists:

  • the PIC
  • the legal land description
  • livestock kept on the property
  • owner details.

Find existing PICs

You can search for NT PICs, property name, location and if a property has an active biosecurity management plan.

Get the full NT PIC list

NT PIC list PDF (1.6 MB)
NT PIC list DOCX (642.8 KB)

Interstate

You can find the PICs for properties in other states through the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). To find out more, go to the NLIS website.

Get a guide to searching the NLIS PIC register PDF (225.3 KB).

Due diligence requests for livestock property sales

If you're considering buying a pastoral property in the Northern Territory (NT), your solicitor or legal representative can request certain information from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

This includes whether the property is subject to any notices, orders or restrictions around livestock diseases.

Information your lawyer can ask for

The department can provide information on:

  • orders or notices issued under the Livestock Act 2008
  • reports of notifiable diseases of livestock under the Act.

Departmental officers can't provide other information except under a subpoena or freedom of information request.

You should note that Australia, including the NT, was declared free of:

  • bovine brucellosis in 1987 and
  • tuberculosis in 1997.

How to apply

You can apply online or by email.

Online

You can apply online via the Territory Services website.

Apply online

Email

To apply by email you must fill in the due diligence request form and follow the steps below.

Due diligence request for pastoral property with livestock PDF (664.2 KB)
Due diligence request for pastoral property with livestock DOCX (62.4 KB)

Step 1. Email your completed form to poocert.ntg@nt.gov.au.

Step 2. Pay your fee by phone to Receiver of Territory Monies.

Step 3. Email receipt of payment to poocert.ntg@nt.gov.au.

For assistance, contact Darwin Veterinary Officer on 08 8999 2102.

Fees

A $51.48 fee applies to all due diligence requests for livestock property sales.

More information

Read more about due diligence requests on the DLPE website.

You can also:

Disclaimer

The information is provided in good faith, but the department accepts no liability for any consequences that might arise from its use.

Buffalo

There are rules you must follow for identifying and moving buffalo and related livestock into, around and out of the Northern Territory (NT).

Property identification code

You must have an NT property identification code (PIC) if you keep buffalo, regardless of the size of your property, the number you have, or if they are pets.

Read about how to get a PIC.

Identifying and branding

NLIS devices

Buffalo must be identified with an approved National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) device before they are moved off a property, regardless of where they are going.

The owner of the livestock is responsible for making sure all livestock are fitted with an NLIS device.

The PIC of origin and destination will be reported in the NLIS database. This is the responsibility of the owner at the place of destination.

For more information and to order an approved device, read more about NLIS in the NT.

Transaction tags are no longer approved for the identification of buffalo in the NT.

Branding

Buffalo do not need branding by law in the NT.

The owner can use an NT-registered brand if they choose but this is not essential.

Read more about branding and identifying livestock.

Moving buffalo

There are rules for moving buffalo around, into, out of, and through the NT.

You must be aware of and comply with the rules so that livestock are moved according to disease control and animal welfare requirements.

Read more about NT waybills, moving and exporting livestock and livestock welfare and land transport standards.

Publications

You can get NT Government publications about diseases, treatment and general management of buffalo.

They are provided as general information only and you should get specific professional advice for your particular situation.

The NT Government are not responsible for any loss, expense, damage or injury that results from using this information.

The publications listed below and other information can be accessed through the online publications search.

Diseases and treatments

Management

Contact

To find out more about rules for buffalo, contact a livestock biosecurity officer.

Agriculture and Livestock Regulations changes

From 22 May 2025, new updated regulation laws for the agricultural and livestock industries came into force.

These laws are part of Agriculture Legislation Amendment Regulations 2025 that amend:

  • Hemp Industry Regulations 2020
  • Livestock Regulations 2009
  • Pastoral Land Regulations 1992
  • Plant Health Regulations 2011.

Summary of changes from 22 May 2025

Hemp Industry Regulations 2020

The change:

  • Remove hemp licensing barriers to allow current and prospective NT hemp industry growers to produce crops for the marketing of medicinal products, such as cannabinoid oils and other hemp medical products.

Livestock Regulations 2009

The changes:

  • Align with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), resulting in the same electronic movement and reporting requirements for cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats.
    • This will enhance the NT’s ability to trace livestock movements close to real time, helping with biosecurity disease mitigation and response management.
  • Strengthen and align biosecurity regulations of honeybees and beehives, including better monitoring, movement controls and increased registration requirements.
    • This aims to better support and protect the NT’s honey production and agriculture pollination industries from Varroa mite, which is now present in southern jurisdictions.
  • Adopt nationally consistent regulatory approaches to pigs and feeding them swill, which is prohibited. Pigs spread many emergency animal diseases, including foot and mouth disease and African swine fever.
  • Amend the land transport standards and guidelines to ensure national compliance with the Australian welfare standards and guidelines.
  • Adopt administrative amendments, including livestock brands and property identification code (PIC) requirements.

Pastoral Land Regulations 1992

The change:

  • Make minor amendment to allow subleasing pastoral-leased land to establish, house and operate satellite communication, geoscience, geophysical or meteorological equipment and associated facilities.

Plant Health Regulations 2011

The change:

  • Clarify and remove cross-border trade barriers around treating plants and fruit before entering the NT where legislated accredited assurance schemes are in place.

Contact

For more information, email livestock.daf@nt.gov.au.

Biosecurity management plans

If you keep or own livestock on a Northern Territory (NT) property, you can have a biosecurity management plan (BMP) in place.

A BMP helps protect:

  • your property from biosecurity risks when people visit on site
  • the NT from various diseases.

Having a BMP is voluntary, but it is recommended.

Rules for visitors

Under the amended Livestock Act 2008 and Livestock Regulations 2009, if you have a BMP:

  • a visitor wanting to enter your property must first get consent
  • a person who has a legal right to enter your property must notify you first or as soon as possible after entering
    • e.g. Bushfires NT, Power and Water Corporation

Visitors who enter your property must comply with the plan. If they don't, they may face a penalty.

How to make your plan enforceable

For a plan to be enforceable under the law, it must:

  • apply to a property that has a property identification code (PIC)
  • include reasonable biosecurity measures - read below to find out more
  • include specific regulatory information.

You must also:

  • notify the Livestock Biosecurity Unit that your plan is in place
  • install appropriate signage
  • set up a visitor management system.

If you created your plan before the amended Act, you should review it to ensure it meets the above requirements.

Start the process

To start the process, follow these steps:

Step 1. Develop a plan

You can create your own plan or use a template from an industry website, such as:

You will need to include:

  • reasonable biosecurity measures and
  • certain regulatory information.

The biosecurity measures you put in place must be:

  • reasonable and
  • designed to stop, eliminate or reduce the risk of a biosecurity impact on your property.

You can get a range of biosecurity planning resources available on the Farm Biosecurity website.

Below are some examples of reasonable biosecurity measures:

  • sign in and out on arrival and departure
  • vehicles and equipment are clean on arrival and departure
  • stick to designated routes
  • leave gates as they're found
  • not pollute or litter the area or water
  • take all rubbish when leaving
  • not interfere with pastoral operations
  • apply extra precautions for recent overseas travellers.

Your BMP must include the following:

  • the property identification code
  • name and description of the property
  • a description, map or plan of the property boundaries or the area where the plan applies
  • name and contact details of:
    • the person who owns or manages livestock
    • the person who is in charge of managing entry to the property (nominated person)
  • a heading that includes the:
    • words 'BIOSECURITY MANAGEMENT PLAN'
    • address of the property
  • date the plan comes into effect.

You can use the BMP cover sheet template DOCX (45.8 KB) to ensure this information is included.

Once completed, attach the cover sheet to your BMP document.

This will help ensure your BMP is compliant and enforceable if someone breaches it.

Provide a copy to visitors

You will need to provide a copy of your BMP to visitors so they know the biosecurity rules.

You can choose to prepare a version of your plan, specifically for visitors, that excludes commercial in confidence farm practices.

Step 2. Notify that your plan is in place

Once you have finalised your BMP, you should notify the Livestock Biosecurity Unit that your plan is in place.

The unit will first contact you by email, requesting nominated contact information. Most contact details will be published.

You will need to confirm:

  • who your nominated contact person is
  • the position they hold
  • their contact details.

This allows potential visitors or a person wanting access to:

  • check if a property has an active BMP using is in place using the NT PIC search
  • contact the nominated person
  • request consent to access the property or give notification of entry.

Step 3. Install signage

To ensure visitors know a BMP is in place, and for regulatory offences to be enforceable, you must install signage.

The signage must include:

  • a statement that has the following wording:
    • 'A biosecurity management plan applies to the property.
    • Entry to the property, or part of the property, without consent is restricted under section 16D.
    • Failure to comply with the plan may be an offence against this Act.'
  • contact details for the nominated person to request consent
  • the word 'STOP' or 'VISITORS'.

Requirements

The sign must:

  • be durable and weather-resistant
  • be at least 450mm x 600mm
  • display clear wording that contrasts with any background colour
  • be securely and permanently attached to a gate, fence or signpost, structure or building
  • be properly maintained.

Get the NT biosecurity sign template PDF (193.1 KB) to arrange signage that complies with the above requirements.

This template is 800mm x 600mm and can be used by signwriters to print on a range of different materials.

Step 4. Set up a visitor management system

You should have a visitor management system that keeps a record of people entering your property.

This could be a:

  • sign-in register that you may already have in place or
  • an electronic system that uses a QR code.

A QR check-in app is being developed to help you with this process.

You can also use a paper-based visitor register template on the Farm Biosecurity website.

How to give consent

If a visitor wants to enter the property, they must first contact the nominated person to understand the rules and requirements.

You can give consent in writing or electronically - for example, by email or SMS.

To give consent in writing, you can use a consent or notification of entry form DOCX (27.1 KB).

If you give consent

You must provide the visitor with a copy of your BMP.

While on the property, the visitor must:

  • keep a copy of the consent on them at all times
  • obey the biosecurity measures in your BMP.

When a person who has a legal right of entry provides notifications of entry, you must provide them with a copy of your BMP.

Penalties

A person may be committing an offence if they:

  • enter your property without consent
  • don’t have a legal right of access
  • don't comply with the BMP.

Penalties include:

  • on-the-spot fines (infringement notice offences):
    • individuals - 3 penalty units ($528) to 10 penalty units ($1,760)
    • organisations - 5 times that amount.
  • For more serious offending where a person is prosecuted and the matter goes to court:
    • individuals - maximum of 20 to 100 penalty units (between $3,520 to $17,600)
    • organisations - 5 times that amount.

These penalties are current to June 2024.

More information

To get property biosecurity planning resources from industry, go to the Farm Biosecurity website.

Contact

For more information, contact your local regional livestock  biosecurity officer.

You can also contact the NT Cattlemen's Association on 08 8981 5976.

Livestock movement statistics

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries releases livestock movement statistics twice a year, based on returned waybills.

In February/March it publishes statistics for the previous calendar year, and in August/September it publishes statistics for the previous financial year.

Cattle numbers may be underestimated due to delays in the return of waybills. Numbers may also be overestimated due to consecutive movements to the final destination of the same mob.

For more information on livestock and moving livestock, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Statistics for previous years are also updated as waybills are returned.

Numbers of horses, deer and camels entering the Northern Territory from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are not included in the statistics for 2011 and 2012 as there was no requirement to return a waybill during those years.

These statistics record the number of head moved from Northern Territory (NT) to other states, from other states to NT and within the NT:

These statistics record the number of head moved from Northern Territory (NT) regions to other states, between NT regions and from other states to NT regions. These figures are published once a year.

These statistics record the number of head moved from the Northern Territory (NT) to other states and within the NT.

These statistics record the number of head moved from the Northern Territory (NT) to other states, within the NT and from other states to the NT for each of the following species - buffalo, cattle, alpacas, camels, deer, donkeys, goats, horses, llamas, pigs, sheep.

These statistics record the total number of livestock of all species moved from Northern Territory regions to other states for slaughter. These figures are usually published once a year.

These statistics record the number of PICs for each region and the total number of livestock for all species for each region.

The department publishes a monthly update of cattle and other livestock exported through Darwin Port.

The updates are published through the online publications library.

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For further information, contact Adele Kluth, livestock identification systems administrator (LISA) on 08 8999 2033 or ntpic.brands@nt.gov.au.