• Victoria to trial commercial processing of culled kangaroos for pet food

• Aim to reduce waste and give landowners an alternative disposal option

• Two year trial in 12 local government areas where kangaroos cause most damage

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh has today announced Victoria will trial arrangements for the processing of kangaroo meat for pet food.
Minister Walsh said the trial would be restricted to kangaroos culled under Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permits, with the aim of reducing waste and providing an alternative disposal option forlandowners.

“The two year trial will be conducted in six local government areas in North East Victoria and six local

government areas in Western Victoria where there are the highest number of wildlife control

applications,” Mr Walsh said.

“Currently kangaroos culled under authorised control efforts cannot be used or processed

commercially. Landholders must bury the carcasses and, depending on the size of the control effort

required, this can be laborious.

“Pet food processors have shown interest in making productive use of what is currently a wasted

meat supply, and this would also help landowners with disposal.

“The controlled trial, which will begin from Monday 31 March, will allow selected and regulated

processing of these carcasses for pet food.”

Within the trial areas, kangaroos intended for processing must be controlled by shooters with

approved qualifications, who must be listed as the agent on the Authorised Control permit.

Meat industry regulator PrimeSafe will work with licensed pet food processors to ensure stringent

adherence to regulatory standards. Processors must be licenced under the Meat Industry Act 1993

and will also need a wildlife processor licence under the Wildlife Act 1975.

Mr Walsh said there would be no change to the process or assessment criteria for the granting of

Authority to Control Wildlife permits.

“Wherever possible, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) advocates non-
lethal management of kangaroos but in some situations these methods are ineffective, impractical or

excessively costly. In these cases, landholders can apply for an ATCW permit.

“ATCW permits will continue to be assessed on case-by case basis and will only be granted if DEPI

officers are satisfied lethal control is required,” Mr Walsh said.