Farm Tender

NSW Farmer fined for NLIS breach

Failure to attach permanent NLIS identifiers to cattle presented for sale at Dubbo has cost a Central West primary producer $1370 in a fine and costs.

The Dubbo stockowner was fined $550 and ordered to pay professional costs of $820 in the Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday this week after he pleaded guilty to presenting five head of cattle for sale at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets without having approved permanent identifiers attached.

Isawill Pastoral Pty Ltd was fined under section 21(2) of the Stock Diseases Regulation 2009 for the offence of presenting cattle for sale at a saleyard that were not identified in accordance with the regulation (Clause 19).

The breach was picked up by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Biosecurity & Food Safety Compliance Officers as part of an ongoing project targeting compliance with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).

NSW DPI Director of Biosecurity & Food Safety Compliance, Mr Peter Day said the court result served as a reminder to primary producers that compliance with the NLIS for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes was crucial.

“This really is a reminder for producers to make sure their stock are correctly identified and that any approved documentation such as National Vendor Declarations are accurately completed in order to sell their animals - if you do the wrong thing there can be consequences,” Mr Day said.

“It’s disappointing that this producer had been warned previously about this issue and failed to act.

“The industry demands a high level of livestock identification across the supply chain because it serves as an important tracing measure for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.”

The NLIS allows DPI and Local Land Services to respond quickly to a major food safety or disease incident, and helps to ensure and maintain access to valuable export markets. It also ensures biosecure, profitable, productive and sustainable primary industries in NSW