LPA
Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) is a program that underpins the National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (LPA NVD/Waybill), which upholds Australia's reputation as a world leader in meat and livestock food safety.
Important information – Russian market eligibility
To meet Russian market access requirements, SAFEMEAT is implementing a 90-day Provisional Russian Export Slaughter Interval (ESI) for products and feed containing oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline – effective 1 January 2012.
Producers must now declare the status of their livestock against this ESI by correctly completing the LPA NVD/Waybill. Producers who do not use products or feed containing oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline or comply with the 90-day ESI must write the words ‘Russian Eligible’ on the LPA NVD/Waybill under Question 9 for cattle and Question 7 for sheep.
Where ‘Russian Eligible’ is written on the LPA NVD/Waybill, it means that the livestock have not been injected with or ingested feed products containing oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline in the last 90 days.
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About LPA
LPA is a simple on-farm food safety program, which enables producers to back up claims made on the LPA NVD Waybills. When producers sign an LPA NVD/Waybill, they are showing their compliance with LPA.
LPA focuses on food safety management, which considers five key elements or areas of compliance, each with a food safety outcome aimed at ensuring meat from livestock is fit for human consumption. LPA is a vital component for effectively managing on-farm risk.
Elements and outcomes
The elements of LPA and their associated outcomes are:
- Property risk assessment
Livestock are not exposed to areas on a property that are contaminated with organochlorines or other persistent chemicals.
- Safe and responsible animal treatments
Livestock intended for human consumption do not contain unacceptable chemical residues or physical hazards.
- Stock foods, fodder crops, grain and pasture treatments
Livestock are not exposed to feeds containing unacceptable contamination, specifically any food containing animal products and/or unacceptable chemical residues.
- Preparation for dispatch of livestock
Livestock to be transported are fit for the journey, are not unduly stressed and contamination is minimised during on-farm assembly and transport to the destination.
- Livestock transactions and movements
Any purchaser of livestock can access the chemical residue or food safety status of the animals, any animals or products purchased can be assessed for chemical residue status and the movement of livestock can be traced if required. The LPA NVD/Waybill and the National Livestock Identification (NLIS) database can help in trace back and trace forward of red meat livestock movements and device and property based status.
Given LPA underpins Australia's food safety record and reputation, certain requirements and standards of the program must be met. These are assessed through random audits. Through keeping good records of management practices and referring to helpful guidelines and tools, compliance should be relatively simple and logical.
Keeping records that meet LPA requirements enables producers to:
- Back up claims made on the LPA NVD/Waybill.
- Accurately identify and describe livestock purchased, sold or transferred between properties.
- Provide a history of livestock or feed products moved, purchased or sold.
- Prove or verify that something has occurred.
- Enable the industry to investigate food safety problems if required.
Although not compulsory, LPA is protecting and guaranteeing Australia's entire red meat industry. LPA NVD/Waybills cannot be sourced without LPA accreditation and an LPA NVD/Waybill is demanded by almost all buyers.
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