Subpoenas – Integrity Systems Limited
Last updated: June 2026
Integrity Systems Limited (ABN 34 134 745 038 / ACN 134 745 038) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA) and is responsible for the administration and technical operation of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program.
Integrity Systems provides the following general guidance to assist parties intending to serve a subpoena on Integrity Systems. This information is provided for general information only, is not legal advice and does not waive any rights, privileges, or objections available to ISC.
Integrity Systems receives subpoenas issued from a range of Australian jurisdictions. Issuing parties are responsible for complying with the rules of the issuing court.
Before serving a subpoena, confirm you have the correct entity. Integrity Systems handles subpoenas relating to the NLIS and the LPA program. Subpoenas relating to MLA’s research, development, adoption, marketing, market insights and market access activities should be directed to MLA (contact details available on MLA's website).
Subpoena enquiries
Operational and procedural enquiries should be directed to:
- Tel: 07 3620 5229 or 1800 683 111
- Email: operations@integritysystems.com.au
Early engagement is encouraged and may assist both Integrity Systems and the issuing party to:
- understand the nature and scope of the request;
- confirm whether the requested material is likely to exist;
- identify any anticipated issues with scope, format or timing; and
- enable Integrity Systems to provide indicative cost estimates and processing timeframes.
Any early engagement is on a without prejudice basis and does not limit either party's rights. Contacting Integrity Systems does not waive or vary formal service requirements, and any disclosure is subject to valid service and the rules of the issuing court.
Addressing the subpoena
Subpoenas must be addressed to the correct legal entity, and should be addressed as follows:
The Proper Officer
Integrity Systems Limited
Level 1, 40 Mount St
NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060
Important: The NLIS and the LPA are systems/programs administered by Integrity Systems. They are not legal entities and are not capable of being the subject of a subpoena. Integrity Systems may be unable to respond to subpoenas addressed to NLIS, LPA or any entity other than Integrity Systems Limited.
Service of the subpoena
Subpoenas must be served in accordance with the rules of the issuing court. Integrity Systems may be unable to comply with subpoenas that are served out of time or otherwise not validly served.
Integrity Systems preferred method of service, where permitted by the rules of the issuing court, is by email to the address below.
Email: A clear PDF copy of the sealed subpoena (bearing the seal or stamp of the issuing court) may be emailed to operations@integritysystems.com.au. The emailing of a copy does not of itself constitute valid service, and does not constitute acceptance of, or agreement as to, the manner of service unless expressly agreed by Integrity Systems in writing (and permitted by the rules of the issuing court).
Hard copy: Where physical, personal or postal service is required by the rules of the issuing court, a hard copy should be served personally on, or sent by pre-paid post to, the address above.
Integrity Systems encourages electronic production where possible to reduce printing, postage and handling costs and to support timely compliance.
Conduct money and compliance costs
A reasonable amount of conduct money must be provided with the subpoena in accordance with the rules of the issuing court. Cheques should be made payable to “Integrity Systems Limited”. Electronic funds transfer payment details can be provided on request.
Integrity Systems requires reimbursement of its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in complying with a subpoena.
Integrity Systems reasonable costs of complying with a subpoena are charged at $200 + GST per hour for time spent searching for, extracting, compiling, reviewing and producing material. Where physical production is required, printing, postage and handling costs are payable in addition. Costs are assessed having regard to the scope, volume and complexity of the request. The rates set out above apply from the "Last updated" date and are reviewed periodically.
On request, Integrity Systems may provide an estimate of likely compliance costs prior to commencing work. Integrity Systems may require payment of estimated compliance costs before commencing work or producing material.
Information required to locate material
Property Identification Codes
Integrity Systems records are held against, and by reference to, Property Identification Codes (PICs). A PIC:
- is an eight‑character code;
- is allocated by a State or Territory Department of Primary Industries or equivalent authority; and
- uniquely identifies a livestock-producing property.
Issuing parties should obtain PIC details from the relevant State or Territory authority, or from the party whose records are sought, before issuing a subpoena. Where a subpoena relates to multiple PICs, each PIC should be clearly and separately listed.
If a subpoena does not include a valid PIC, Integrity Systems may be unable to locate the requested material and the subpoena may be subject to objection or require clarification. Requests based on names, legal entities, business names, addresses, descriptions or images cannot reliably be used to locate material.
Date range
Subpoenas must include a clear and definitive date range (start date and end date), expressed in DD/MM/YYYY format and inclusive of both dates, for the requested material. Open-ended or undefined timeframes may result in objection or delay.
Categories of material
Subpoenas should clearly describe the categories of material sought with sufficient particularity. Requests that do not identify the categories of material sought may be subject to objection or require clarification.
Types of material held by Integrity Systems
Integrity Systems relies on information submitted and provided by system users and does not verify its accuracy. The specific records held in respect of any PIC will depend on the information submitted by users and the system configuration applicable at the relevant time.
The NLIS database is the national system for tracking the movement of livestock for biosecurity, food safety and market access purposes. It holds data including, without limitation:
- movements of livestock onto a PIC;
- movements of livestock off a PIC (to another property, saleyard or abattoir);
- NLIS devices purchased for use on animals on a PIC; and
- the current list of NLIS devices on the PIC.
The LPA program is an on-farm assurance program covering food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity. The LPA system holds data including, without limitation:
- a PIC’s LPA accreditation status;
- serial numbers of LPA National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) books issued to a PIC; and
- electronic NVDs (eNVDs) created and submitted for consignments by a PIC.
Material that Integrity Systems does not hold includes, without limitation:
- property or livestock ownership;
- prices of livestock;
- livestock sales data;
- photographs or images; or
- financial records (including tax invoices and receipts), forms, memoranda, printouts of computer records, records, writings, documents or other material relating to the ownership, registration, acquisition or disposal of livestock.
Privacy and confidentiality
Integrity Systems will only disclose personal, sensitive or confidential information in response to a valid subpoena or other lawful authority.
Where a subpoena seeks information that is sensitive, commercially confidential or that affects third parties, ISC may (amongst other things) notify the issuing party of confidentiality or sensitivity concerns and/or object to production in accordance with the rules of the issuing court.
Grounds for objection or scope limitation
Integrity Systems reserves the right to object to, seek to vary, or not comply with subpoenas that, without limitation:
- are not properly addressed or served;
- lack a valid PIC;
- do not allow reasonable time for compliance;
- request irrelevant materials;
- seek material not in ISC’s possession, custody or control;
- contain terms that are overly broad, vague or unclear;
- would impose an oppressive or disproportionate burden on ISC having regard to the scope of the request;
- would require disclosure of material subject to confidentiality obligations;
- are issued for an improper purpose; or
- request privileged material.
Updates to this guidance
This guidance is updated from time to time. The version identified by the "Last updated" date above supersedes all prior versions.
