Protecting industry integrity as a small red meat producer

Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) requirements such as on-farm biosecurity and lifetime traceability underpin the integrity of our red meat industry, enabling us to access global markets and command premium prices for our product. 

Small Producers who wish to be accredited to sell their stock into the red meat supply chain need to comply with the LPA requirements, which underpin food safety, traceability and market access across the entire industry.

LPA requirements 

Producers of any size who raise livestock for the red meat supply chain should be LPA accredited and familiar with the seven mandatory LPA requirements. 

LPA-accredited producers are also required to participate in LPA’s audit program, and they should maintain appropriate records demonstrating their compliance with the requirements of their LPA accreditation. 

Why small producers should be audit-ready 

Being LPA audit-ready demonstrates you understand and comply with the expectations of the LPA program. 

This is critical to ensuring not only the integrity of your own farming enterprise (however modest), but it is also important in ensuring you don't place neighboring producers or other parts of the supply chain at risk of disease or lapses in biosecurity. 

Elizabeth Bradley, ISC’s Policy, Quality and Compliance Manager, said that it was important for small producers to understand that one animal can have a significant impact on Australia's red meat supply chain if poorly managed. 

“Our integrity system relies on everyone complying – whether you have one head of cattle or a thousand,” she said. 

LPA requirements such as on-farm biosecurity and lifetime traceability underpin the integrity of our red meat industry, enabling us to access global markets and command premium prices for our product.  

“If a diseased animal is introduced to your farm without being appropriately quarantined, it can infect other livestock, and if it managed to escape into a neighbour’s paddock that can then become a significant problem.” 

As a starting point, Elizabeth advises small producers to consider the following:

• Do not think that ‘it’s only one animal’ so it doesn’t matter – sometimes, one is all it takes
• Check all animals introduced to your property for signs of parasites or disease, and quarantine them until you are sure they pose no threat to your existing animals
• Follow this guidance to ensure your animals are identified correctly
• Make sure your fencing is fit for purpose and animals cannot escape
• Use the quick tips below to ensure your LPA and NLIS records are up to date and correct. 

Quick tips for compliance with the LPA requirements 

1. Property risk assessments: The risk assessment involves mapping the property for potential risk sites and recording how livestock access to these are minimised, to prevent unacceptable levels of chemicals, pathogens from recycled water, and physical contaminants entering the meat they produce. Use this template to help complete your LPA Property Risk Assessment. 

2. Safe and responsible animal treatments: Every LPA-accredited producer must take steps to ensure that animal treatments are administered and recorded in a safe and responsible manner to minimise the risk of chemical residues and physical hazards.  Use this template to record your LPA Livestock Treatments. 

3. Stock foods, fodder crops, grain & pasture treatments: LPA producers must take steps to ensure agricultural chemicals are applied and treated correctly, and that their animals are not exposed to chemical residues or restricted animal products in their feed. Use this template to record your LPA Paddock Treatments.  

4. Preparing to dispatch livestock: Livestock producers must guarantee livestock are fit to load and that stress or the potential for contamination during transportation is minimised. Refer to MLA’s Is the animal fit to Load? guide for more information. 

5. Livestock transactions and movements: Maintaining timely and accurate NLIS and NVD records of all livestock movements on and off your PIC including ensures all treatments and any exposure to food safety hazards are traceable and can be rapidly responded to. For more information, refer to the LPA Livestock Transactions & Movements Factsheet. 

6. Biosecurity: On-farm biosecurity underpins the integrity of our red meat industry, enabling us to access global markets and command premium prices for our product. From 1 September 2026, it will be mandatory to complete a Biosecurity Plan when seeking LPA accreditation or reaccreditation. Use this template to help you develop your LPA Biosecurity Plan. 

7. Animal Welfare: LPA accredited producers are required to ensure livestock are managed in accordance with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for cattle, sheep and goats. An Animal Welfare Management plan is required when seeking LPA accreditation or reaccreditation, and this template can assist you in developing your LPA Animal Welfare Management Plan.