Information

 

Sheep NLIS System
As part of proving the efficiency of tracability provided by the current visual sheep NLIS system the DPI has directed that Local Land Services (LLS) carry out a number of audits at sheep sales between February and July 2016. As part of these audits they are expected to monitor almost all NVDs and then inspect all identified non vendor bred sheep (as identified from the NVDs) in the sale.
This audit is being expressed as a matter of importance as it is our last chance to try to stop the implementation of a RFID NLIS system in sheep.

Fines will be applied to those who are non-compliant. If the visual system fails, RFID will be forced upon industry. Producers and agents must get it right, tagging and NVD complete with all extra PICs.

​

NVD Version Requirements

Producers are advised that some livestock buyers have introduced requirements for livestock to be consigned on the most recent version LPA NVDs.  This is a commercial requirement driven by the need for consistency in the information provided on LPA NVDs.

Updated versions of LPA NVDs for all species will be available from 1 July 2020, to be identified by version number 0720.

Current versions of NVDs for all species (cattle, EU-cattle, sheep & lambs, goats and bobby calves) will continue to be accepted until 31 December 2020. 

From 1 January 2021, only the updated versions of all NVDs (0720) will be accepted for all species.

You can order the new NVD (0720) from 1 July 2020.

As part of the MLA Accelerated Adoption Initiative announced in November 2019, there is no cost for NVD books until 30 June 2021.

​

The LPA NVD version number can be found in the top left corner of each NVD. The version number is a letter (representing the livestock type) followed by a four digit code (representing the month and year the content was agreed by SAFEMEAT).  The 0413 versions have been in circulation since December 2013.

 

For more information go to MLA

​

EUCAS (EU Cattle Accreditation Scheme)

The EUCAS is a national animal production scheme that guarantees full traceability of all animals through the NLIS, linking individual animal identification to a central database. EUCAS allows Australia to meet the European Union market requirements for beef by segregating cattle that have never been treated with hormonal growth promotants at any time.

If you run a closed cattle herd & are HGP-free, being EUCAS accredited allows you access too many more markets therefore maybe a better c/kg. Beef exported to the European Union must come from cattle raised on properties that are accredited by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) under the European Union Cattle Accreditation scheme (EUCAS). Producers can apply for accreditation by completing the relevant documents.

EUCAS Helpline 1800 305 544 or Email eucas@aqis.gov.au
or Visit http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/meat/elmer-3/eucas

​

MSA Accreditation Scheme

Clients encouraged to consider MSA accreditation. With a number of marketing opportunities now available MLP suggest that clients consider becoming MSA accredited to ensure you can access as many different markets to sell your stock in as possible.

 

Meat Standards Australia (MSA) is a beef and sheepmeat eating quality proram designed to take the guesswork out of buying and cooking Australian red meat. MSA provides endorsement of quality for graded cuts of meat indicating the product has met quality standards for tenderness, juiciness and flavour. MSA involves all sectors of the supply chain from paddock to plate.


Supplying beef to a MSA processor

Beef producers wishing to supply cattle for MSA must be registered. MSA cattle can be supplied directly to a processor or at a saleyard.

A MSA vendor declaration and a National Vendor Declaration (NVD) must accompany cattle to the MSA licensed abattoir. The MSA vendor declaration confirms that MSA guidelines for cattle handling and trucking have been followed and that tropical breed content is recorded.

You must be registered as an MSA producer, available at no charge. You can register online, download a MSA registration form and return it to MLA, or contact MSA on 1800 111 672.
Check that you meet the list of MSA requirements. Once you have received your MSA producer registration number, access to MSA vendor declarations and are satisfied you meet the MSA requirements, you can consign cattle through the MSA system.

​

NLIS Requirements
LHPA NSW are about to embark on state wide monitoring on selling centres & movement of all livestock. This will involve checking of correctly completed NVDs, NLIS tags, transfer of NLIS movements that still are not being adhered to by owner/person n charge of livestock. If documents are not compliant you risk being fined.

NLIS SHEEP AND GOATS – OPERATION FIND, FIX, FEEDBACK:
In light of the Victorian government announcing mandatory sheep electronic tags will be implemented in the future in Victoria last week, NSW is raising the bar for compliance monitoring for the paper based system currently used.
Increased auditing in NSW saleyards will be occurring. These audits will be aiming to Find, Fix and provide Feedback on any problems found.

Find: NVDs will be examined at the start of a sale and a sample of these chosen for more specific auditing. The pens of sheep that correspond to that NVD will be inspected to determine if the NVD has been correctly completed with all the details of the consignment, e.g. inclusion of ‘other PICs’ for non vendor breed sheep.

Fix: Any problems found in these audited pens – be they tags missing or additional PICs not recorded on the NVD - will be fixed prior to the sale being complete. In the case of tags, the agent will be informed of the number of tags required to be attached, the producer will be charged for the tags at a cost of $1.10 per emergency tag. These emergency tag details will then be added to the NVD for correction to the NLIS database. Similarly if additional PICs are found in a pen that was not recorded on the original NVD, these will be added to the sale data so that the correct information is uploaded to the NLIS database.

Feedback: Producers will then be sent a warning letter (in the first instance) with subsequent offences leading to a recommendation for a Penalty Infringement Notice ($550.00). From 1 July 2013, any NVD that is required to be fixed will also incur an administrative fee of $100.00 to be charged to the producer by the local authority.

NSW is standing firm in its belief that electronic tags in sheep and goats are unnecessary to meet our traceability requirements. However, if we are not able to prove it by seeing greater compliance in the industry for the current paper-based system, it will be hard to continue our argument.

For much more information & guidlines please go to the DPI website click here.
You can contact the NLIS Helpdesk on 1800 654 743 or nlis.support@mla.com.au

​

Russian and Saudi Eligible

Being Russian &/or Saudi Eligible will give you full competition & maximum return on your livestock.
Majority abattoirs & butchers that purchase sheep & cattle require stock to be 'Russian Eligible' 'Saudi Eligible'

What is 'Russian Eligible'?
 

For Russian Market Access

Detection of oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline residues in meat or offal in Russia will result in the meat processor, and potentially Australia, being banned from that market. Russia is Australia’s fourth most important market.

​

To meet Russian market access requirements SAFEMEAT has implemented a 90 day Provisional Russian Export Slaughter Interval (ESI) for prescribed veterinary medicines and feed additives containing oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline – effective 1 January 2012. Specific products may have a shorter ESI – check the SAFEMEAT website www.safemeat.com.au

​

Producers must declare the status of their livestock against this ESI by correctly completing the LPA NVD. Under addional informaiton please state 'Russian Eligible'

What is 'Saudi Eligibile'?

For Saudi Kingdom Market Access
Livestock must not have been fed animal feed containing products from dead animals (protein/fats/tallow, animal remains) It is a similar situation to the declaration that farmers have to make in regards to Saudi Arabia and animals which have never consumed meat meal, producers/vendors need to write "Saudi Eligible" on NVD forms under additional information

​

National Sheep Health Statements

What is the national Sheep Health Statement (SHS)? (See important update on SHS below)

The SHS is a formal document, signed by the seller. It accompanies a mob of sheep and provides a prospective buyer with relevant health information on OJD, footrot, ovine brucellosis, lice and information about treatments that the sheep may have received, e.g. drenches and vaccinations.

​

It is a valuable biosecurity tool which:

1. gives sellers the opportunity to promote the health assurance of their sheep, and

2. allows buyers to assess health risks and buy wisely so that they can minimise the risk of introducing OJD or other infections into their flock and district.

3. ​

For further information click here

National OJD Management Plan 2013-18. CLICK HERE
OJD FACT SHEET. CLICK HERE
More information go to www.ojd.com.au
What is OJD?

For the current Animal Health Statement - Sheep click here.

​