According to the NAIT Act, all movements of cattle or deer must be reported to Operational Solutions for Primary Industries within 48 hours. Additionally, animals must be equipped with a NAIT tag and entered into the system either by the time they reach 180 days of age or before they are transferred off a farm.
An investigation conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) revealed that Bolton had failed to register 269 animals, neglected to report the transfer of 571 animals off-farm, and omitted the declaration of 83 animals being brought onto his two large dairy farms. Each of these violations resulted in a fine of $11,666.
MPI’s district manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance upper south, Paul Soper, emphasized the importance of the NAIT system in tracing animals to effectively manage disease outbreaks and uphold biosecurity measures. Soper highlighted the potential risks associated with non-compliance, stating, “This farmer’s infractions under the NAIT Act involved nearly 1000 animals. As demonstrated by our encounter with Mycoplasma bovis, a single animal can pose a significant threat.”
Soper underscored MPI’s commitment to enforcing compliance with animal tracing regulations, stating, “Failure to adhere to NAIT obligations by individuals responsible for livestock jeopardizes the entire agricultural industry.”
