Refresher on tracing requirements
11 March 2025
The introduction of mandatory electronic identification (eID) devices demonstrates a robust biosecurity and traceability system. This is extremely important for international and domestic market access.
When used correctly, the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and eID allow industry to track where an animal has been, other animals they have mixed with and their current location. This ensures faster and more accurate responses to biosecurity threats or food safety issues, minimising the impact on our industry.
Entire herds are at risk in every instance where we do not use the National Livestock Identification System to accurately reflect stock movement.
What are the requirements?
The system and the responsibilities of producers, agents, saleyards, lot feeders, exporters and processors have not changed. The identifier, however, has changed from visual to electronic.
All goats must have an NLIS-approved identifier when leaving the property.
Who updates the NLIS database?
- If livestock are bought, sold or moved through a saleyard, the livestock movement must be recorded by the saleyard.
- For all other movements – this includes to processors, private sales and property to property movements (P2P) – it is the receiver of the stock who is required to record the movement on the database.
A movement needs to be recorded on the NLIS database by a producer when:
- You have purchased animals privately and need to complete the transfer as the receiver of the livestock.
- You own more than one property with different PIC numbers and need to transfer livestock between your own PICs.
- You have sold livestock privately and you want to complete the transfer because the receiver is unable to do so.
NOTE: You can check your NLIS account and upload missing information in relation to a movement, but it is the receiver’s responsibility to complete the paperwork.
