Singapore legislation
Section 20
Section 20
Marking, branding or tagging of carcases
(1)
Before the carcase of any animal that has been slaughtered in a licensed slaughter‑house is removed, it must be marked, branded or tagged in the prescribed manner to denote that that animal has been slaughtered in compliance with section 11(1)(a).
(2)
Any person who —
removes, without lawful excuse, the carcase of any animal that has been slaughtered in a licensed slaughter‑house before that carcase is marked, branded or tagged in accordance with subsection (1);
marks, brands or tags the carcase or any part of the carcase of an animal which was not slaughtered at a licensed slaughter‑house with the intention of causing it to be believed that the animal was slaughtered at such a slaughter‑house;
makes or has in the person’s possession any dye, plate or other instrument for the purpose of it being used or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used for the purpose of counterfeiting the mark, brand or tag of a licensed slaughter‑house; or
sells or exposes for sale or has in the person’s possession for sale the carcase or any part of the carcase of an animal which was not slaughtered at a licensed slaughter‑house but which —
bears any mark, brand or tag which is intended to represent the mark, brand or tag of a licensed slaughter‑house; or
is so marked, branded or tagged as to cause it to be believed that the animal was slaughtered in a licensed slaughter‑house,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(3)
Subject to subsection (4), in any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(d), it is a defence for the person charged to prove —
that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or to some other cause beyond the control of the person charged; and
that the person charged took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence by the person charged or by any person under the control of the person charged.
(4)
If in any proceedings the defence provided by subsection (3) involves the allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person, the person charged is not, without leave of the court, entitled to rely on that defence unless, within a period ending 7 clear days before the hearing, the person charged has served on the prosecutor a written notice giving such information as was then in the possession of the person charged identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person.