Adrian Robert Talbot was sentenced in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Tuesday (23 June) after being convicted of two offences under the NSW Food Act. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A Wagga Wagga man has been fined $12,000 and ordered to pay more than $30,000 in legal costs after being convicted of running an unlicensed pet meat-processing operation that slaughtered horses and pigs for greyhound feed.
Adrian Robert Talbot was sentenced in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Tuesday (23 June) after being convicted of two offences under the NSW Food Act.
The court heard Mr Talbot operated an unlicensed knackery and an unlicensed animal food transport van.
He was fined $6000 for each offence, totalling $12,000, and ordered to pay $30,952.58 in prosecution costs, taking his total court bill to almost $43,000.
A third charge relating to an alleged biosecurity breach was withdrawn.
The offences occurred between August 2023 and May 2024 and were uncovered during a multi-agency investigation led by Wagga Wagga City Council, with assistance from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Local Land Services, NSW Police and Racing NSW.
During the investigation, compliance officers found the property was being used to slaughter horses and pigs for sale as pet meat for greyhounds.
Authorities also observed animal carcasses at various stages of decomposition on the property.
Investigators seized 300 kilograms of horse and pig meat as evidence.
NSW Food Authority CEO Andrew Davies said the outcome should serve as a warning to anyone operating outside the rules.
“There are strict regulations in place for processing animals for animal food,” Mr Davies said.
“This includes licensing and registration that ensures skills, knowledge and safety controls.
“The NSW Food Authority routinely undertakes inspections of these facilities to ensure the community can have confidence in the system.”
The convictions were recorded in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Tuesday.
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