LPA audit

Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) audits are essential for ensuring the farm management systems used by livestock producers are complying with the rules and standards of the program. Not only do audits act as a check of Australia’s red meat integrity system, but they also ensure producers can stand by what they sell.

Queensland cattle producer, Brad Robinson, was recently selected for an audit.

“I found out we were going to be audited at the end of 2022. It is a bit of a shock at first when you see these things come through…but when we went through the information that was there and spoke with the AUS-MEAT auditor, it was nothing for us to be fearful about.

“Once we looked at the resources that were available on the ISC website, that really helped us get prepared,” Brad said. 

How do I prepare for an LPA audit?

Audit participants are selected from the database of LPA accredited producers. Annually, 2,500 producers are selected at random and 1,000 are selected for targeted audits due to system-identified nonconformance.

Learn more from ISC CEO Dr Jane Weatherley and cattle producer Brad Robinson about what to expect from a Livestock Production Assurance audit.

All LPA accredited producers – from large-scale operators to hobby farmers – may be audited at some point. There is no charge for an LPA Audit.

If you are selected for an audit, you will be notified in writing by Integrity Systems Company. You will receive a follow-up phone call with an auditor to schedule a time to conduct the audit – as well as whether it will be virtual or in-person.

With your notification letter, you’ll also receive resources to help you prepare. This includes an audit checklist to help make sure your current records are up-to-date and ensure you have all required information. You’ll have a few weeks to review the pack and to gather the records you need for the audit.

What is involved in an audit?

During the audit, a qualified auditor from AUS-MEAT will check how records are maintained and how food safety, biosecurity and animal welfare management is being carried out. The auditor will assess on-farm practices for compliance, as well as accompany you on an inspection of property facilities to ensure your records reflect on-farm activity.

If any nonconformities are identified, the auditor will advise you before they depart.

If selected to complete an audit remotely, you must upload the required documents to the ‘Audit records’ page of the nominated LPA account two days before the scheduled date of audit. You must notify the auditor of the submission via phone or email. The auditor will then arrange a time with you to review the documentation to complete the audit over the phone or video call.

What if issues are identified during an audit?

If on-farm management practices or record keeping do not meet the LPA standards, the auditor will record it as a nonconformity and issue a corrective action request (CAR). CARs are nothing to fear and allow you an opportunity to fix the nonconformity and remain accredited.

A nonconformity can be categorised as either minor, major or critical – depending on the potential impact it could have on food safety, traceability, biosecurity or animal welfare.

1. Minor nonconformity

A minor nonconformity is an area where on-farm actions slightly vary from the LPA Standards. These are unlikely to directly affect food safety, biosecurity or animal welfare. These are recorded as an ‘observation’ and represent opportunities for improvement in your overall farm management system.

2. Major nonconformity

A major nonconformity is an issue that has the potential to compromise food safety, biosecurity or animal welfare and you will be issued a CAR. CARs must be rectified by the due date as instructed by the auditor.

If a CAR has been issued, it will appear as an alert in your LPA Account. Producers need to take the required action to resolve the issue and provide evidence of the action taken. Once action is taken, the evidence/documentation can be provided directly to AUS-MEAT via email or uploaded directly to the CAR in your LPA account for review and closure. Failure to close a CAR by the due date may result in LPA accreditation being suspended and losing access to LPA NVDs and eNVDs.

3.Critical nonconformity

While rare, critical nonconformities are serious. A critical nonconformity either:

• affects the integrity of the Australian red meat industry or the LPA program
• compromises the LPA Rules or Standards
• jeopardises food safety, biosecurity or animal welfare.
  
  

Examples of critical nonconformities include:

• feeding restricted animal material to livestock
• chemical residue detection above maximum residue limits
• incorrect management of hormone growth promotant-treated cattle.
  
  

If a critical nonconformity is identified or you fail to close CARs by the due date, your accreditation may be suspended until you demonstrate that the issues have been addressed. If you do not address a suspension, you will have your LPA accreditation withdrawn. Following a suspension, you may be required to participate in additional audits to ensure that the nonconformity has been addressed and not reoccurred, which may incur additional fees.

Audits are critical to verify compliance and provide assurance to our customers in relation to food safety and biosecurity for the red meat industry. It is a condition of LPA accreditation that producers agree to participate in an audit if requested. Refusal to participate may result in LPA accreditation being withdrawn.