AUSTRALIA’S livestock and red meat quality assurance programs are to be rolled into a single streamlined management structure.

The Integrity Systems Company – formerly NLIS Ltd — will deliver the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program, National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) and the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA.

MLA said the new streamlined structure will help ensure resources are more effectively directed to further develop and improve these key systems for the future prosperity of the red meat and livestock industry.

The establishment of a new company follows a recommendation by industry and government in 2015 – through their SAFEMEAT partnership – that one company be given responsibility for delivering a fully integrated integrity system.

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Integrity Systems Company chief executive officer, Dr Jane Weatherley, said the move represented a new era for Australia’s red meat industry and will ultimately help deliver a more effective and co-ordinated integrity system.

“Australia’s traceability and quality assurance systems underpin the current and future success of the Australian red meat industry and allow producers to stand by what they sell.

“Our existing systems have ensured Australian red meat enjoys an impeccable reputation in global markets – but we need to continually look at new ways to strengthen and enhance how they operate,” Dr Weatherley said.

“This will ensure we maintain and grow access to markets domestically and across the globe, and have a key advantage against our main competitors.”

The LPA program provides evidence of livestock history and on-farm practices that ensure Australian meat is safe to eat, while the NVD provides the mechanism for the transfer of information. NLIS gives full traceability through the value chain, MLA said.

Dr Weatherley said the changes will see the Integrity Systems Company taking on full responsibility for the LPA program, which was previously owned by AUS-MEAT, who will continue to carry out on-farm auditing for the program.

“The move demonstrates industry’s commitment to continually improve the system. While this change in LPA ownership will not affect how livestock producers interact with the program, it will result in improved efficiency and alignment with the other elements of the system.

Further information about the integrity programs is available on the MLA website www.mla.com.au/integrity, or call the Helpdesk on 1800 683 111.

Source: MLA.