Producers embrace LPA strengthening
01 February 2018
More than 10,000 Australian producers have updated their Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation following the expansion and strengthening of the red meat industry’s national on-farm integrity program.
Since the updates were introduced in October 2017, 10,378 goat, sheep and cattle producers have worked through the new online accreditation process. This comprises 7,870 producers who have renewed voluntarily and 2,508 producers who have become accredited for the first time.
These producers have successfully completed an assessment via the LPA Service Centre at mla.com.au/lpa to demonstrate understanding and acceptance of their on-farm food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity responsibilities.
Under the newly expanded program, goat producers are required to keep on hand a copy of the Australian Industry Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Goats and to ensure all staff handling livestock abide by its contents. They must also have a Farm Biosecurity Plan in place and be meeting related requirements around biosecurity and animal welfare more broadly.
“Producers have been proactive in embracing the changes to the LPA program,” says Dr Jane Weatherley, CEO of the Integrity Systems Company (ISC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia which delivers the program on behalf of the red meat industry.
Throughout October and November, more than 5,500 goat, sheep and cattle producers attended 62 workshops across Australia to learn about the enhancements to LPA – specifically, the introduction of standalone biosecurity and animal welfare elements.
Auditing of LPA-accredited producers for the two newly incorporated elements, biosecurity and animal welfare, will begin from January 2018.
The distribution of National Vendor Declarations for goats in hard copy is expected to be under way by the end of January.
Any producers who are still uncertain of their obligations under LPA are encouraged to visit www.mla.com.au/LPAchanges, email lpa@mla.com.au or call the LPA hotline on 1800 683 111.
Producers can also work through LPA Learning, a set of online learning modules which explain the on-farm practices required to comply with the seven elements of LPA.
More information: www.mla.com.au/LPAchanges
