Targeted review of NFAS

Summary

The National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) was originally implemented in 1994 to establish minimum operating standards for beef cattle feedlots, through an industry-regulated quality assurance model.

This project addressed a recommendation from an earlier review of the scheme; that periodic reviews be undertaken every five years. The aim of the review was to consider the operational aspects of the Scheme and make recommendations on where the current NFAS rules, standards and auditing processes could be strengthened or changed to deliver improved animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental outcomes.

The review revealed that there are inconsistencies in the understanding among participants and auditors of what NFAS requires, resulting in inconsistency in how the NFAS Standards and Rules are applied by feedlot operators and assessed by auditors. A series of 13 recommendations were made to address and resolve the issues identified.

Objectives

1. Identify the main aspects of feedlot activity that are likely to cause concern to government and the community in the areas of animal welfare, biosecurity and care of the environment.
2. Review current State and Federal Government regulation with respect to animal welfare, biosecurity and environment and compare these against the NFAS Standards to identify any deficiencies.
3. Review the current sanctions for non-conformances as detailed in the NFAS rules and assess their effectiveness in encouraging ongoing compliance with the scheme standards.
4. Propose practical guidelines that should apply to the status and treatment of the livestock on a feedlot, where accreditation is suspended or withdrawn by AUS-MEAT, as a result of a critical non-conformance.
5. Review the adequacy of the NFAS rules and assess their effectiveness for feedlot operators (particularly the Responsible Person) and support services providers (consultant veterinarians and nutritionists) in relation to incident reporting and make observations on how the mechanisms may be improved.
6. Review current audit frequency together with the appropriate skill level required by auditors and assess the adequacy of the current auditing process to readily identify past and present non-conformances in the areas of animal welfare, biosecurity and care of the environment.
7. Review the adequacy of the current level of feedlot documentation, as a tool for auditors to successfully audit past feedlot activities, particularly in the areas of animal welfare, biosecurity and care of the environment.
8. Review the outcome-based format of the current NFAS standards and assess whether the lack of specificity in any way inhibits:
   1. the ability of auditors to assess compliance; and
   2. the ability of industry to utilise the scheme to raise industry minimum operational standards from time to time.

Key findings

While NFAS has served the industry well for more than 25 years; the Review identified significant opportunity for improvement in the Scheme’s Standards and Rules in order to ensure continued relevance.

The review revealed that there are inconsistencies in the understanding among participants and auditors of what NFAS requires, resulting in inconsistency in how the NFAS Standards and Rules are applied by feedlot operators and assessed by auditors. The issues identified can be resolved through implementing 13 recommendations which relate to:

• aligning NFAS more closely with regulatory expectations
• improving from a minimum standard
• shifting from extension to compliance
• articulating requirements for personnel.

Benefits to industry

NFAS is the grainfed beef sectors quality assurance scheme. The periodic review of the scheme provides the opportunity to ensure the operation and management of the scheme is effective, and delivers outcomes that align with the expectations of regulators and the community, maintaining the sectors social licence.

Adoption of the review recommendations will strengthen the current rules, standards and auditing processes of the scheme, and deliver improved feedlot performance in terms of desirable animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental outcomes.

MLA action

MLA has passed the project report to the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) and AUS-MEAT, who administers the scheme through the Feedlot Industry Accreditation Committee (FLIAC), for consideration and implementation of the recommendations.

Future research

It is not expected that any future research activities will result from this project. However, in due course, ALFA and FLIAC will publish a response to the report and outline actions taken to implement the recommendations. Additionally, periodic reviews of the NFAS will be undertaken every five years.