Last updated: 6th October 2026
Integrity Systems is responsible for the administration and technical operation of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program. Integrity Systems Company Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA), and is a separate legal entity from MLA. Subpoenas must be directed to, and are answered by, the entity that holds the material sought.
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, may be amended at any time without notice, is not legal advice, is not a substitute for the rules of the issuing court, and does not waive any rights, privileges or objections available to Integrity Systems. Integrity Systems does not produce documents or information otherwise than in response to a subpoena or other lawful authority.
From time to time, 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, including livestock movement records and National Vendor Declarations.
Subpoenas relating to MLA’s research, development and adoption programs, as well as its marketing, market insights and market access activities, should be directed to MLA; see Issuing a subpoena to MLA.
Operational and procedural enquiries should be directed to Integrity Systems:
Early engagement is encouraged and may assist both Integrity Systems and the issuing party to:
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.
Subpoenas must be addressed to the correct legal entity. The legal entity behind Integrity Systems is Integrity Systems Company Limited (ABN 34 134 745 038 / ACN 134 745 038). Subpoenas should be addressed as follows:
The Legal Officer
Integrity Systems Company Limited
Level 1, 40 Mount Street
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 Company Limited.
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.
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 Company 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, in accordance with the rules of the issuing court.
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 rate set out above applies from the "Last updated" date and is 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
Integrity Systems' records are held against, and by reference to, Property Identification Codes (PICs). A PIC:
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.
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).
Requests framed solely by general subject matter, without identifying the categories of material sought with sufficient particularity, may not be sufficient to enable Integrity Systems to locate responsive material and the subpoena may be subject to objection or require clarification.
Subpoenas should clearly describe the categories of material sought with sufficient particularity.
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.
Integrity Systems produces material in the form in which it is held. Integrity Systems is not obliged to, and generally will not, create a new document, compile a bespoke report or undertake data analysis in order to respond to a subpoena, and produces records without any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information they contain.
The NLIS database is the national system for tracking NLIS devices and the corresponding movement of livestock for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity, market access and related industry purposes. It is a traceability system and holds data including, without limitation:
The LPA program is an on-farm assurance program covering food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity. The LPA system holds data including, without limitation:
Material that Integrity Systems does not hold includes, without limitation:
Integrity Systems handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. Integrity Systems will disclose personal, sensitive or confidential information in response to a subpoena only to the extent the disclosure is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court or tribunal order, or is otherwise permitted under the Australian Privacy Principles.
Where a subpoena seeks information that is personal, sensitive, commercially confidential or that affects third parties, Integrity Systems may (amongst other things) notify the issuing party of confidentiality or sensitivity concerns, notify the affected person or entity so that they may consider their own position, produce material in redacted form, object to production, or apply to the issuing court for directions or for orders limiting access or inspection, in accordance with the rules of the issuing court.
Integrity Systems reserves the right to object to or to apply to the issuing court to set aside or vary, or for directions in relation to, subpoenas that, without limitation:
This guidance is updated from time to time. The version identified by the "Last updated" date above supersedes all prior versions.