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The National Livestock Identification System: Australia's Cattle Trace

A national database and a tag on every animal let Australia trace cattle from the property of birth to slaughter.

What Is the National Livestock Identification System?

The National Livestock Identification System, usually shortened to NLIS, is Australia's system for tracing livestock. It was introduced in 1999 to help trace cattle during disease outbreaks and food safety incidents. Movements are recorded on a national database from the property of birth through to slaughter, which supports lifetime traceability for biosecurity, food safety and market access.

The details here come mainly from the NLIS approved identification technology fundamentals document, an industry document that is operative from 20 March 2020.

How NLIS Works

Every property that holds livestock has a Property Identification Code, or PIC, an eight-character code assigned by a state or territory authority. In Western Australia a three-character brand identifies a property. Animals carry approved identification devices, and every supply chain participant must use NLIS approved technologies to record movements.

The source does not state that cattle tags were RFID at the time of launch, so this page makes no claim about the earliest devices. It does show that approved technologies must pass a formal process and that the system records each movement on the database.

Who Runs It

SAFEMEAT, the industry-government body, is custodian of the NLIS rules and the owner of the approval program. Integrity Systems Company Limited is the program administrator. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Meat and Livestock Australia, and was previously named National Livestock Identification System Limited. The company also runs the Livestock Production Assurance program and National Vendor Declarations.

A Standards Committee appointed by SAFEMEAT handles technical assessment of new devices and reports to Integrity Systems Company. For a state government explanation, see the New South Wales government NLIS page.

The Key to the NLIS Approach

NLIS is notable because it was built as a joint effort of industry and government with a clear rulebook. The documented features are:

  • It uses one national database that records movements from the property of birth through to slaughter.
  • It assigns every property a PIC, so records are tied to a place as well as an animal.
  • It splits roles: SAFEMEAT owns the rules, and Integrity Systems Company administers the program.
  • It controls technology quality through an approval process with experimental, conditional and full levels.
  • It expanded when the case was clear, adding sheep and goats in 2006.
  • Its limit is dependence on accurate recording by every participant in the supply chain.

How Devices Get Approved

Identification technology is approved in stages. Initial approval runs on a five-year cycle, with reapproval available every five years. Field trials typically last 36 months. Conditional approval may be considered after six months of a field trial and allows commercial supply, subject to state or territory approval.

The three levels are experimental, conditional and full. That structure lets new devices be tested in real conditions without putting the national database at risk.

Why Traceability Mattered to Beef

The source gives three reasons for lifetime traceability: biosecurity, food safety and market access. A country that exports beef depends on being able to show where animals came from and where they have been, especially when a disease or contamination event requires quick tracing.

The National Livestock Traceability Performance Standards were endorsed in May 2004, which set common expectations for how cattle and other livestock should be traced across the country.

Learn More

Meat and Livestock Australia explains traceability for overseas readers in its piece on tracing Australian cattle. For related identification methods, see the page on ear tags. For more stories on cattle management, visit the ranching section of farm.FM or read a farm.FM story about Australian cattle.

Timeline

  1. 1999NLIS is introduced to help trace cattle in disease and food incidents.
  2. May 2004The National Livestock Traceability Performance Standards are endorsed.
  3. 2006Sheep and goats are added to NLIS.
  4. OngoingInitial device approvals run on a five-year cycle, with field trials typically lasting 36 months.
  5. 20 March 2020The current approved identification technology fundamentals draft becomes operative.
  6. TodayIntegrity Systems Company administers NLIS, with SAFEMEAT as custodian of the rules.

Frequently asked questions

What is NLIS?

The National Livestock Identification System is Australia's national system for tracing livestock. It records movements from the property of birth through to slaughter on a national database.

When was NLIS introduced?

NLIS was introduced in 1999 for cattle. Sheep and goats were added in 2006, and national traceability performance standards were endorsed in May 2004.

What is a PIC in NLIS?

A Property Identification Code is an eight-character code assigned by a state or territory authority to a property. In Western Australia a three-character brand identifies a property.

Who runs NLIS?

SAFEMEAT is custodian of the rules. Integrity Systems Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meat and Livestock Australia, is the program administrator.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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