Australia’s meat quality assurance scheme is set for an overhaul with on-farm biosecurity and animal welfare practices set to be included in the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) this year.
Red Meat Advisory Council chair Don Mackay said broadening the LPA program to include biosecurity and animal welfare will serve to reinforce the system.
“Integrating these practices – some of which are already required under legislation – into the LPA program will significantly strengthen our pledge to our customers, and protect the industry for the future,” Mr Mackay says.
“Australian red meat producers are committed to achieving high animal welfare standards and understand the intrinsic link between high welfare and high productivity, the importance of Australia’s enviable biosecurity status and the value of the LPA program.”
From October producers will be required to pay $60 per LPA accreditation every three years to remain in the LPA program.
Currently there are 215,000 livestock producers involved in LPA.
Integrity Systems Company, a subsidiary of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), announced the changes which include online assessment and learning modules to support producer understanding of their on-farm requirements.
Integrity Systems Company chief executive Jane Weatherley said the changes would strengthen the reputation of Australian red meat internationally.
“Australian red meat producers are renowned for delivering quality red meat into more than 100 international markets and our industry is well known for its food safety and traceability,” Dr Weatherley said.
Producers will be supported in preparing for the assessment – including the biosecurity and animal welfare requirements – by LPA Learning, an online education tool developed by MLA.