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"The faster and more conveniently that we can get information back to the
farm, the faster we can correlate it, and begin to make better management
decisions." Beef producer Jennifer Cotter from ‘Kinbombi’, Goomeri,
Queensland with NLIS Manager Aaron Iori demonstrating NLIS Express.
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Number of LPA PIC registrations
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FOOD SAFETY AND INTEGRITY SYSTEMS
ENHANCE PRODUCT INTEGRITY
The integrity of Australian red meat throughout the supply chain underpins industry’s access to overseas markets and the trust of domestic consumers. Our work provides industry with the platforms for assuring clean, safe food through Livestock Production Assurance and the National Livestock Identification System database, as well as research to refine and improve food safety systems.
Following a major E. coli O157:H7 scare in the US from contaminated meat imported from Canada in 2007, the US Food Safety Inspection Service implemented new and costly testing regimes for imported beef trim. Ongoing scientific research and the expert panel of scientists, regulators and industry formed in 2004, informed discussions between the Australian Meat Industry Council and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) that developed a new AQIS-supervised testing system. This system meets US requirements and is more efficient, minimising trade disruption.
In a move to further bolster Australia’s reputation as a leading supplier of safe, quality red meat, we upgraded the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) food safety program by removing provisional accreditation from 1 March 2008.
This means provisionally registered producers on the LPA database had to move to full accreditation to utilise LPA National Vendor Declarations (NVDs). Since its inception, the number of fully accredited properties in the program has surged to 153,182 – a 34 per cent increase on last year.
The move to full accreditation further enhances industry’s ability to guarantee a safe and wholesome product through its independent auditing process.
The number of producers enrolled in the LPA Quality Assurance (QA) program (a specialised add-on to LPA that incorporates Cattlecare and Flockcare programs) decreased to 1,500, down 27 per cent. A review into the program identified the reasons behind the drop to be adverse weather conditions and a perceived lack of financial benefit versus associated audit costs. We are developing a program for LPA QA with implementation due to begin in 2008–09.
After successfully implementing the LPA program, MLA transferred the management of the program to AUS-MEAT, effective from 1July 2008. AUS-MEAT takes over LPA database management, the printing and distribution of LPA NVDs and the administration of LPA rules and standards. MLA remains responsible for LPA NVD content, as well as developing and instigating LPA communication initiatives.
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database, which averaged 180,000 transactions a month during 2007–08, underwent scalability testing to ascertain the volume of data, transaction and number of users who can concurrently use the database before the system ceases to meet current service levels. The ‘stress test’ showed the system is capable of sustaining twice the current peak load without negatively affecting response times. The project also allowed us to evaluate and seek ways to improve the effectiveness of the NLIS database operations.
We also undertook an audit on NLIS communication and support services. Of those surveyed, 93 per cent considered the helpdesk an important service and view the continuation of the helpdesk in its current form a priority.
NLIS Express™, launched in February 2008, provides producers with new technology that enables contact with the NLIS database from anywhere, without access to a computer. This works by downloading a file onto a compatible Next-G mobile phone and a Bluetooth tag reader. While uptake of the technology has been slow, we anticipate enhancements in 2008–09 to increase usage and application of this technology.
