Definition change to support lamb exports

Australian farmers will be able to sell more lamb with the definition of lamb now changed to match our competitors in export legislation.

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said this important change meant farmers could now sell sheep as lamb after teeth had popped through.

“Lamb will continue to be called lamb even if the animal has permanent incisor teeth, so long as those teeth have not begun to wear,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This brings us into line with the definition in New Zealand and it makes sense to have the same definition as our competitors. Why would we hand the Kiwis an unfair advantage?

"This is a simple, common sense change which will help our farmers.

“In Australia, lamb had previously been considered to have grown into the less lucrative "hogget" or mutton as soon as incisor teeth were visible.

"The new export definition is now in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Orders 2005 and matches New Zealand's and our own new AUS-MEAT definition.

“The legislation will take effect on 1 July 2019.

"It also brings clarity to the definition—growers will now clearly see when a lamb becomes a sheep, when there is visible wear on the incisors.”