News

Old versions of LPA NVDs to be phased-out

Beef Central, 11/11/2014

SAFEMEAT will phase out all but the most recent versions of Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declarations during 2015.

food safetyAnnouncing the changes this morning, the chair of SafeMeat Partners, Ross Keane, said the policy will apply to all LPA NVDs prior to the 0413 versions for cattle, EU cattle, sheep and goats and the 0412 version for bobby calves.

The move follows recent unilateral decisions to move in the same direction by major export processors, JBS Australia and Teys Australia. Click these links to view earlier articles.

Mr Keane highlighted SafeMeat’s strong support of these actions already taken by a number of major meat processors, who have declared they will only bid for, or accept stock accompanied by the most recent version of the Cattle, Sheep, Goat or Bobby Calf LPA NVDs.

“This action has been necessary to reduce confusion, deliver consistency in the order and nature of the questions on the LPA NVD; and to provide specific assurances to meet domestic and importing country requirements,” Mr Keane said.

“The LPA NVDs play a key role in supporting and promoting Australia’s reputation as a reliable supplier of safe, residue free meat and meat products to domestic and international markets.

“The information contained is critical to rapidly tracing animal movements in the event of a disease or residue emergency. While the older versions continue to meet regulatory requirements, changes to the content and order of questions over time have resulted in LPA NVD versions that no longer satisfy the commercial needs of the red meat and livestock industry,” Mr Keane said.

SafeMeat anticipates that other processors will follow suit over accepting only current NVDs, with flow-on effects to saleyards and feedlots.

“Producers will need to comply with these commercially-driven requirements, or accept the likelihood that buyers representing processors will not bid for stock consigned with older forms,” it warned.

SafeMeat  said it was seeking to expedite the availability of integrated electronic NVD options aimed at allowing the ‘paperless’ movement of stock from properties to saleyards, feedlots and abattoirs before announcing a firm expiration date in 2015.

Mr Keane said transitioning to electronic NVD systems would help the industry to avoid future redundancy problems caused by printed forms, as electronic NVDs could be immediately updated to meet changing market requirements.

SafeMeat’s  focus was now on developing a set of minimum standards and system requirements to allow a path to market for these systems, he said.

Hard copy LPA NVD books will continue to be available for those who cannot access electronic systems.

“SafeMeat will provide further advice to the market as the situation evolves, but producers are now on-notice that they will need to either purchase the latest version of the LPA NVD book or access electronic alternatives to avoid any problems with the acceptance of old LPA NVD versions,” Mr Keane said.

  • Producers can order a new hard-copy LPA NVD booklet online, or purchase electronic LPA NVDs, at http://lpa.ausmeat.com.au/
  • Producers may also call the LPA Helpdesk on 1800 683 111 to purchase hard copy LPA NVD books

 

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Comments

  1. judith rosevear, 12/05/2015

    terrible customer service not to inform or provide forms to use for the transition to the new system.

  2. Jan Anderson, 27/01/2015

    As usual the powers that be cannot get this right and as usual it falls on the producer to foot the bill I have several new (NOW OLD) nvd books that are useless! We could all go to Edec’s but guess what they only have a 30 day useby date! so no future planning there.

  3. Richard Hill, 12/01/2015

    Would have thought it appropriate that producers be sent a free replacement NVD book. This would have assured a smooth transition and stopped the cost once again falling back onto the producer.
    Richard Hill

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