Compliance changes on the way for harvested rangeland goats

Mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) will come into effect nationally at the start of next year. a

The Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program is introducing a new voluntary accreditation module and National Vendor Declaration (NVD) to enable harvested rangeland goat (HRG) owners and registered goat depots to continue operating mob-based and tag-free movements of eligible HRGs after 1 January 2025.

Why change is necessary a

The Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) in conjunction with the States and Territories have worked together to agree an approval pathway to enable HRGs to continue to move device-free from 1 January 2025.

Elizabeth Bradley, ISC’s Manager Quality, Policy and Compliance said that there is animal welfare and work health and safety issues to be considered in tagging harvested rangeland goats, but it’s also important to maintain a traceability solution for the sector.

“Australia enjoys an enviable reputation for the safety of its red meat and to maintain this we must ensure the ongoing traceability of all species susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease,” Elizabeth said.

“The new LPA HRG module and HRG NVD will help protect the wider red meat industry while continuing to support HRG traceability once the national eID mandate comes into effect on 1 January 2025.”

The new LPA module

The new LPA module for HRGs will be available for LPA accredited goat owners and registered goat depots from 1 October 2024.

Owners and registered goat depots must obtain accreditation in the new LPA HRG module before 1 January 2025 if they wish to access the HRG NVD and continue tag-free mob-based movements of HRGs once eIDs come into effect nationally.

Elizabeth said that once owners or registered goat depots have applied for HRG accreditation, their relevant state or territory department will be notified and then assess the application.

Applicants will receive the outcome of their assessment by email. If approved, the owner or registered goat depot must pay for the HRG accreditation and then their Property Identification Code (PIC) will receive a HRG status in the NLIS Database.

“The HRG module underpins a closely monitored approval system which will be robustly audited to ensure all HRG participants are adhering to the rules,” Elizabeth said. “Once approved, owners must undergo an LPA audit every two years and registered goat depots will be audited annually.”

“A failure to adhere to the module’s requirements will see the immediate withdrawal of HRG accreditation and it is likely that owners or depots who breach these requirements will be excluded from re-approval for a period of time.”

HRG National Vendor Declaration

Access to the new HRG NVD will only be permitted once accreditation in the LPA module for HRGs is approved. They will then be able to purchase a HRG NVD book or use the HRG eNVD form, enabling HRGs to continue being recorded as mob-based movements in the NLIS Database.

A new version of the goat NVD will also be available from 1 October 2024. This new version will be used to move all managed and farmed goats, and removes all reference to tag-free movements and HRGs. The existing goat NVD will be invalid from 1 November 2025.