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.