Guidelines & tools

Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) is the system that underpins Australia's reputation as a global source of safe red meat. Given there is so much at stake, MLA is working to make it as easy as possible for producers to comply with LPA through a number of helpful guidelines and tools.

It is important producers remember that if they are audited they will need to prove compliance with the elements of LPA and the best way to do this is by keeping good records.

Tools to help

Below are a series of tools, publications and websites that can help producers meet their requirements under LPA.

• Guide to LPA NVD/Waybills 
• Sample record templates 
• Sample completed record template and property risk assessment flyer 
• LPA Audit Checklist 
• Property assessment 
• Property risk assessment map 

Guidelines and tools for LPA elements

Element 1: Property risk assessment: On-farm systems have been implemented to minimise the risk of livestock being exposed to sites that are unacceptably contaminated with organochlorine or other persistent chemicals.

• See the LPA Standards for performance indicators and checklists to confirm outcome has been met.  
• Refer to the publication On-farm Risk Assessment for Persistent Chemicals for practical question and answer information and a useful check list.
• Read the Chemical use section on the Victorian Department of Primary Industries website.

Element 2: Safe and responsible animal treatments: On-farm systems have been implemented to ensure that animal treatments are stored and administered in a safe and responsible manner to minimise the risk of chemical residues and physical hazards in livestock intended for human consumption.

• See the LPA Standards for performance indicators and checklists to confirm outcome has been met.
• MLA's Responsible Use of Veterinary Chemicals factsheet offers practical information to help producers meet element 2.
• The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), maintains up to date lists of withholding periods (WHPs), and export slaughter intervals (ESIs), for agricultural chemicals.
• The On-farm risk management section of this website offers practical advice and information on minimising the risk of chemical residues in your livestock.
• Visit the Veterinary chemical use laws section of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries website.

Element 3: Fodder crop, grain and pasture treatments and stock foods: On-farm systems have been implemented to manage the exposure of livestock to foods containing unacceptable chemical contamination to minimise the risk of chemical residues in livestock and to eliminate the risk of animal products being fed to ruminant livestock intended for human consumption.

• See the LPA Standards for performance indicators and checklists to confirm outcome has been met.
• Refer to the publication On-Farm Risk Assessment for Persistent Chemicals for practical question and answer information and a useful check list.
• Check WHPs and ESIs with APVMA.
• Always request a completed commodity vendor declaration (CVD), by-product vendor declaration (BVD), or fodder vendor declaration (FVD), from the livestock feed supplier.
• The On-farm risk management section of this website offers valuable information about stock feeding.
• Read the Managing in drought section of the New South Wales Industry and Investment website.
• Refer to the Crops, pastures and weeds section of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries website.
• Visit the Veterinary chemical use laws section of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries website.

Element 4: Preparation for dispatch of livestock: On-farm systems have been implemented to ensure that selected livestock are fit for transport and that the risk of stress and contamination during assembly and transport is minimised.

• See the LPA Standards for performance indicators and checklists to ensure outcome has been met.
• Refer to the guide Promoting Best Practice - Together Everyone Achieves More for key points to consider when organising transport for livestock.
• Visit the Animals & livestock section of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries website.
• Read the Australian Livestock Transporters Association booklet Together Everyone Achieves More.
• Read MLA's publication Is it fit to load?

Element 5: Livestock transactions and movements: A system has been implemented to enable traceability of the current status of all livestock with respect to treatment or exposure to relevant food safety hazards for all livestock movements between livestock production enterprises including to slaughter and live export.

• See the LPA Standards for performance indicators and checklist s to confirm outcome has been met.
• Be familiar with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
• Utilise the Guide to LPA NVD/Waybills for information on LPA and correctly completing a LPA NVD/Waybill.
• Ensure sufficient records are maintained to demonstrate the traceability of stock purchased or sold.

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