Goat Industry Council of Australia
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Issues and programs: Industry systems

Assuring quality and traceability

With 95% goat meat exported overseas at a value of more than $55 million in 2007-08, Australia relies heavily on its ability to supply safe, quality-assured product. The livestock industry systems below are the key to assuring the on-farm safety and traceability of Australian goat meat.

Livestock Production Assurance

Goats are included in Meat and Livestock Australia's (MLA) Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program. LPA is an on-farm food safety certification program designed to help the red meat industry strengthen the food safety systems currently in place.

LPA provides goat producers with a set of guidelines and a National Vendor Declaration/Waybill (NVD) to help declare the food safety status of their livestock.

These guidelines present goat producers with very basic animal production and record keeping requirements. In most cases producers will not need to change their on-farm management practices.

The number of goat-producing properties registered on the LPA database continues to grow. Currently there are more than 9,000 goat properties registered on the LPA database.

Industry leaders remind goat producers that they must be fully accredited in the LPA database to continue using the LPA NVD.

To find out more about LPA, visit the MLA website.

LPA National Vendor Declaration and Waybill

Orders for the LPA National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (LPA NVD/Waybill) for goats are increasing across Australia every month. This reflects the growing demand for the LPA NVD/Waybill by buyers in the processing sector and livestock traders.

To participate in LPA and be eligible to use LPA NVD/Waybill for goats, you need to have a Property Identification Code (PIC). PIC numbers are obtained from your state department of agriculture or your livestock health and production authority.

After obtaining a PIC, register for LPA by calling the LPA hotline on 1800 683 111 (choose option 3), or visit the website and click ‘register for LPA’.

There is a guide book that producers must read before becoming accredited within the LPA program. This is available for purchase at the time that you register for LPA, or you can download this from the internet for free. The guide book explains what the program is about and what documentation is required to be kept.

Industry leaders remind goat producers that they must be fully accredited in the LPA database to continue using the LPA NVD for goats.

More information on LPA NVD/Waybills email: lpa@mla.com.au or visit the MLA website.

National Livestock Identification System

NLIS is Australia’s system for the identification and tracing of goats for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

Throughout Australia, producers are required to know where the goats under their management have come from and where they are going.

This means:

  • All managed goats must be identified with an NLIS ear tag before leaving their property – be they destined for a saleyard, abattoir, sale over-the-hooks (OTH) or another property with a different Property Identification Code (PIC).

  • All transported goats, not just managed goats, must be accompanied by accurate and fully completed movement documents, generally a National Vendor Declaration.

There are some state-based exemptions or additional requirements for dairy goats, show goats and unmanaged (feral or rangeland) goats.

Contact your state department of primary industries or agriculture for specific requirements.

Further information