NLIS Animal Identification Technology Approval Program

Q: What’s the difference between the Program Rules and the Requirements?

The Program Rules govern how the approval program operates. The Requirements set the technical standards and the requirements a device must meet.

Who this page is for

Suppliers seeking NLIS approval for an identification device or technology.
Field trial supervisors who conduct and oversee on-farm device trial assessments.
Producers seeking information about where to buy devices and device rules, see the Animal Identification webpage.

Program overview

All animal identification used under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) must be approved by Integrity Systems under the NLIS Animal Identification Technology (AIT) Approval Program before an NLIS logo license is granted.

“Animal identification” includes but is not limited to ear tags, rumen boluses, buttons, bands, transponders, microchips or any other technology that can identify livestock.

The essentials

Integrity Systems approves animal identification in conjunction with SAFEMEAT’s NLIS Device Standards Committee.
Devices must apply and pass assessment, testing and auditing before starting field trials.
Field trials run over a 36-month period and assess device retention and suitability in on-farm settings, against the Approval Requirements.

Devices seeking NLIS approval move through the following stages.

Enquiry & application

Email operations@integritysystems.com.au to request the application form and instructions.

Assessment

Integrity Systems assesses the application against the Approval Requirements.

Testing

The device is electronically tested for performance.

Auditing

Manufacturing and quality auditing is completed at different stages of approval.

Field trials — over 36 months

On-farm trials across multiple properties assess device retention and suitability. Overall loss must stay below 3.5% across trial properties.

Committee review & approval

Results are reviewed by the NLIS Device Standards Committee and Integrity Systems grants approval.

NLIS logo licence & listing

The approved device is licensed to carry the NLIS logo and added to the NLIS Approved Devices list.

ℹ Indicative overview: This is a simplified summary. The process, criteria and timeframes are set out in the NLIS AIT Program Rules and Approval Requirements.

Request an application and ask questions

To obtain an application form and instructions or a copy of the NLIS AIT Program documents, email Integrity Systems using the ‘contact us’ button below. You can access an NLIS trials information pack via the link at the bottom of this page.

Contact ISC Operations

Lodge a complaint or provide feedback

Complaints or feedback about an NLIS-approved animal identification technology should first be lodged with the supplier. If the matter is not resolved, please complete the below NLIS Complaint Form and Integrity Systems will investigate.

NLIS Complaint Form

Information for device suppliers and applicants

If you’re looking to bring a device or technology to market for use under NLIS, here’s what to know before you apply:

Approval covers the device together with its applicator, packaging and instructions.
The device must have ICAR certification, meet the NLIS Device Standards and pass assessment and testing.
The facility of operations and processes must be covered by ISO9001 certification and meet the NLIS Approval Requirements to gain access to the NLIS database to upload devices for use.
A 36-month on-farm field trial is required, demonstrating retention and suitability. There are four assessments required over the course of the trail on each property.
Suppliers coordinate trials utilising approved Independent Supervisors who provide trial data to Integrity Systems.
Once conditionally or fully approved, the device is licensed to carry the NLIS logo (our trademark), is listed publicly.

Suppliers NLIS Trials Info Pack
Request application form

Information for field trial supervisors

Field trial supervisors independently and oversee the on-farm trials that determine whether a device performs in real conditions. Across the 36-month trial period, supervisors record device retention, performance and loss rates on each trial property and report against the AIT Approval Requirements.

Start with the info packs
The Field Supervisor and Producer info packs explain trial set-up, responsibilities and record-keeping.

Field Supervisor Info Pack
Producer NLIS Trials Info Pack

Documents

Producer NLIS Trials Info Pack

Suppliers NLIS Trials Info Pack

Field Supervisor NLIS Trials Info Pack

NLIS AIT Approval Requirements

Frequently asked questions

Any device or technology used to identify livestock under NLIS - ear tags, rumen boluses, buttons, bands, transponders, microchips or similar - must be approved by Integrity Systems before it can carry the NLIS logo.

Email operations@integritysystems.com.au to request the application form.

There are three levels of approval. The first stage can take between 3-6 months. The entire approval process includes a 36-month on-farm field trial, so the overall timeline is measured in years. Exact timeframes depend on assessment, testing, auditing and trial results.

The Program Rules govern how the approval program operates. The Requirements set the technical standards and the requirements a device must meet.

For full NLIS approval, a device must not exceed 3.5% loss rate across all trial properties over the three-year field trial and cannot exceed 0.2% non-reading rate. This limit is staged at assessments at 6, 12 and 24 months.

For NLIS-approved pig tags, visit the Australian Pork website - pigpass.australianpork.com.au/faq - and open the identification tab.