Section 17
( 1)
Before the carcass of any animal that has been slaughtered in a licensed slaughtering centre is removed, it shall 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
(a)
removes, without lawful excuse, the carcass of any animal that has been slaughtered in a licensed slaughtering centre before that carcass is marked, branded or tagged in accordance with subsection (1);
(b)
marks, brands or tags the carcass or any part of the carcass of an·
animal which was not slaughtered at a licensed slaughtering centre with the intention of causing it to be believed that the animal was slaughtered at such a slaughtering centre;
(c)
makes or has in his 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 any mark1 brand or tag of a licensed slaughtering centre; or
(d)
sells or exposes for sale or has in his possession for sale the carcass or part of the carcass of any animal which was not slaughtered at a licensed slaughtering centre, but which
(i)
bears any mark/ brand or tag which is intended to represent the mark, brand or tag of a licensed slaughtering centre; or
(ii)
is so marked, branded or tagged as to cause it to be believed that the animal was slaughtered in a licensed slaughtering centre, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.
(3)
Subject to subsection (4), in any proceedings for an offence against subsection (2l{d), it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that-
{a) the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or to some other cause beyond his control; and
{b)
he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such offence by himself or by any person under his control.
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(4}
If in any case 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 shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on that defence unless, within a period of not more than 7 days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information as was then in his possession identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person.
Power to prohibit slaughter.