Changes to the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program, which will more than double accreditation costs on a per year basis for producers wishing to sell livestock, have been confirmed after months of speculation.
APlus News first flagged the changes in March, which were dismissed by an Integrity Systems Company (ISC) spokesperson at the time, but confirmed by peak industry councils.
LPA is managed by ISC, a subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia.
At the time it was expected changes would be implemented by July 1 of this year, however they will now start on September 1 – the changes will only affect producers as their accreditation comes due for renewal over the next three years.
Central to the changes is the renewal period for LPA accreditation going to two years, instead of the existing three years.
In a press release ISC said changes to the accreditation renewal period had been made to help producers stay up to date with LPA requirements, ensure the information remains top of mind and help support the robustness of the program.
The cost of accreditation and reaccreditation is $90 plus GST for the new two-year accreditation period, which equates to more than double the current annual fee, with three years costing just $60 plus GST currently.
ISC reported this was to help support the operational costs of running the LPA program and associated audits.
This raises the cost of accreditation on a yearly basis from $20/year plus GST to $45/year plus GST.
The introduction of a Self-Assessment tool for accreditation and reaccreditation was also announced on Thursday.
The existing questionnaire will be replaced with a new Self-Assessment tool, taking about 20 minutes to complete.
This new tool has been designed to provide a “more enriching educational experience and help livestock producers increase their awareness and understanding of the LPA requirements”.
Voluntary modules will also be made available, including a Harvest Rangeland Goats module from October 1, 2024, new processes for handling complaints and issues of concern, as well as additional opportunities for data sharing and clarified processes.
Integrity Systems Company Chief Executive Officer Jo Quigley said the changes were designed to ensure Australia’s red meat industry continued to be a dominant player in the global supply of red meat.
“Accreditation ensures Australian producers can maintain access to markets globally and locally and allows them to attract the best price possible for their quality red meat,” Ms Quigley said.
“The delivery of the new Self-Assessment tool marks a significant step forward in responding to consumer sentiment around animal welfare and biosecurity concerns.
“This new tool offers greater opportunities for red meat producers to understand the LPA requirements and how they relate to specific farm practices.
“We believe this tool and the personalised recommendations report that can be downloaded upon completion will greatly strengthen the integrity credentials of our industry.”
ISC reported the changes were the result of strong collaboration between itself and the red meat industry, which had endorsed the changes.
Industry representatives were contacted for comment but due to the late hour of the day were unable to respond by time of publication.