LPA upgrades to underpin customer trust

Changes to the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program which came into effect in October are simple to implement and mean goatmeat producers can stand by what they sell now and into the future.

Producers who register with LPA or who are notified to renew their LPA accreditation need to ensure all on‐farm practices meet LPA program requirements, which include biosecurity and animal welfare, complete the LPA assessment, and pay the $66 accreditation fee.

Integrity Systems Company CEO Dr Jane Weatherley, which manages LPA on behalf of the goat, sheep and beef industries, said it was a good opportunity for producers to revisit the on-farm requirements of their LPA accreditation.

“For most, little has changed. The current version of the National Vendor Declaration remains the same, and while producers are encouraged to ensure they fully understand the changes by completing the online LPA Learning course now, the need to do the assessment and renew accreditation is not immediate,” Dr Weatherley said.

Producers will be required to renew their accreditation only when it is due, once every three years, and every producer will be notified two months before it is time to do this. For example, some producers won’t receive a renewal notification until 2020 if they have already renewed in 2017.

The accreditation process involves three steps:

• ensuring all on-farm practices meet LPA program requirements
• completing the LPA assessment
• paying the $66 accreditation fee.

When renewing accreditation, producers now complete a 14-question assessment designed to verify their knowledge and understanding of the program’s requirements.

The new requirements regarding biosecurity and animal welfare will be considered in LPA audits from 1 January 2018 but sanctions for non-compliance will not be applied until July 2018.

For more information, visit the LPA website, call the LPA hotline on1800 683 111, or email lpa@mla.com.au