Is LPA accreditation right for you?
While LPA Accreditation is a voluntary program, LPA is recognised by the red meat industry as the minimum program required to assure food safety, animal welfare and on farm biosecurity.
You must be LPA accredited to access NVDs and eNVDs. The NVD or eNVD captures evidence of livestock history while on your farm and communicates this when moving livestock through the supply chain and is a recognised NLIS movement record required under state biosecurity legislation.
LPA accreditation is vital for Australia’s food safety, biosecurity and market access in the red meat industry and used to underpin access to export markets.
Below is some guidance to assist smaller or hobby farmers determine if LPA accreditation is the right fit:
If the below apply to you and you DO intend to move the animals off your property, then you MUST apply for LPA accreditation. You must use NVDs or eNVDs and ensure your livestock are tagged with NLIS ear tags.
Saleyards, feedlots, processors and other LPA accredited producers require livestock to come from LPA accredited properties and arrive with an LPA NVD or eNVD which means you have more market opportunities to sell your livestock.
You need LPA accreditation to use an LPA NVD or access the eNVD system.
LPA accreditation is required to be part of the EUCAS program and to be MSA registered.
If you are leasing a property or agisitng livestock on another property LPA accreditation for that property may also be required.
Circumstances that may not require LPA accreditation are:
You are a hobby farmer or keep livestock for pets and do not intend on selling them into the food supply chain.
Your livestock are not for human consumption and will remain on your property.
Your livestock are only being raised for your own private consumption.
You do not want access to the LPA NVD or eNVD or the market opportunities LPA accreditation provides when selling livestock.
You do not want to undergo an LPA audit or adhere to the LPA program requirements.
You have destocked a property that used to have livestock.
If your circumstances change and you no longer wish to keep your LPA accreditation which requires LPA auditing of your PIC perhaps because you currently do not have any animals currently on the property, then you can choose to cancel your LPA accreditation and reapply when it suits. You may contact the LPA Help center and your LPA account associated with the PIC that was initially registered can be reinstated.
LPA accreditation costs $90 + GST and is valid for two years. This fee covers access to a wide range of tools, support, and services, including:
- LPA eLearning modules
- Accreditation and account management tools
- Self-service options for purchasing LPA NVD books
- Remote auditing services
- Access to audit reports and management of corrective action requests
- Online record-keeping tools
Please note:
If you are selected for an LPA audit, the cost of the audit is fully covered by the program.