Get set with NLIS

Get set with NLIS

02 August 2022
-Min Read
TAGS NLIS FMD/LSD

Image of a cow with tag in ear

Quick facts

  • NLIS is a legislative requirement for all livestock owners, and your NLIS account is your key to effective traceability and the prevention of biosecurity threats.
  • With the recent outbreaks of FMD and LSD in Indonesia, it’s never been more important to ensure your livestock can be identified and traced using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
  • The NLIS system reflects Australia’s commitment to biosecurity and food safety, providing a competitive advantage in a global market through identification and traceability.

Why is NLIS important?

The NLIS is Australia’s system for the identification and traceability of cattle, sheep and goats. NLIS is an important risk mitigation tool, protecting our livestock industry in the event of a disease, contamination or residue issue. The traceability data entered into the NLIS database every day allows industry and government to know where livestock have been, and the other livestock they have been in contact with, which is vital to enable isolation and containment of diseases if they occur. Ensure you understand your role and responsibilities, so you can help keep our industry’s reputation true.

Ensuring all livestock movements have been recorded in the NLIS database is vital to maintaining the lifetime traceability of livestock. Having a record of all livestock movements helps ensure that:

  • If a disease is detected in Australian livestock, animals that may have come into contact with the disease can be identified to prevent further spreading.
  • If your property has been quarantined, you have proof of where your livestock have been and this may help you to be removed from quarantine quickly.
  • Consumers have greater trust in our meat products, as we have traceability records for all livestock that have been moved anywhere in the country.

Accessing your NLIS account

All sheep, cattle and goat producers are strongly encouraged to have a NLIS account. It is the legal responsibility of the purchaser to ensure all livestock transfers onto their property identification code (PIC) have been recorded correctly on the NLIS database, which can be done easily through your NLIS account.

To log in to your NLIS account, go to the NLIS website and enter your NLIS User ID and password.

Alternatively, if you have linked your NLIS account to myMLA, you can either:

  1. Click ‘log in with myMLA’ on the NLIS login page to access your NLIS account using your myMLA username and password.

OR

  1. Go to the MLA website and log into myMLA to access your NLIS account.

More information about myMLA and how to link your NLIS and other industry accounts to myMLA is available on the MLA website.

If you can’t find your NLIS account details, recover them here. Alternatively, if you want to set up a new NLIS account, you can register for an NLIS account on the NLIS website. In order to create an NLIS account, you must have a PIC number assigned to you by your state department of agriculture. For more information on how to set up and use your NLIS account, visit: How NLIS works | Integrity Systems

Resources to help with your NLIS account

A range of how-to guides are also available on our website to help producers complete common actions in the NLIS database, including:

If you receive an email warning from the NLIS about loss of lifetime traceability for livestock sold, moved or purchased, read this article from our website to understand your responsibilities.

ISC Customer Service is also available to provide more help with NLIS at: