Levies collected by meat processors

TB differential slaughter levy

As meat processors, you collect a TB levy for cattle at slaughter to help fund the TBfree programme. Rates:

• differ for dairy and beef cattle
• are reviewed annually.

From 1 October 2024, the:

• dairy cattle slaughter levy increased to $12.25 from $11.50 per head
• beef cattle slaughter levy decreased to $4.50 from $4.75 per head.

The maximum levy rate allowed remains at:

• $15 per head for dairy cattle
• $8.50 per head for beef cattle.

All rates exclude GST.

M. bovis cattle levy

As meat processors, you collect an Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) cattle levy for beef cattle at slaughter to help fund the MBfree programme.

Rates are reviewed annually.

From 1 June 2025, the rate is:

• 80 cents (plus GST) per head for beef cattle.

NAIT slaughter levy

All cattle processed for human consumption or pet food incur a NAIT slaughter levy of $1.49 per head.

NAIT unsafe-to-tag (UTT) levy

A Person in Charge of Animals (PICA) may identify individual cattle or deer that are going to slaughter, but can't be safely or practicably tagged. In these instances, they may choose not to NAIT tag these animals, but must declare them unsafe to tag (UTT) in NAIT, and get an exemption from tagging.

The UTT levy rate of $13 per head applies to UTT cattle or deer arriving at a processor.

Meat processors don't charge the UTT levy if an animal:

• has a NAIT tag but it doesn't scan
• has a NAIT tag, but is also declared and marked as UTT 
• is untagged, but not declared and marked as UTT (though meat processors may charge extra for slaughtering an untagged animal).

Paying the correct levy

As a PICA, you may need to change the production type for animals registered to your NAIT account to ensure you pay the correct levy.