AT Kerang Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, two people were ordered to make financial contributions to the court fund after pleading guilty to offending under the Livestock Diseases Control Act 1994.
Sally Fletcher and Rowan Pollock were charged with the manipulation of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database. Co-accused, Wayne Saunders, was dealt with on December 19.
Fletcher worked for an agent and entered false information into the NLIS database about livestock movements.
National Vendor Declarations accompanying the livestock, signed by Pollock and Saunders, were also false, and as a result, a feedlot was misled about the origins of the livestock.
Agriculture Victoria compliance manager Daniel Bode said livestock traceability was a fundamental component of the Australian agriculture industry.
“It enables livestock biosecurity risks and disease outbreaks to be tracked, traced and controlled and provides certainty of our livestock products through the supply chain,” he said.
“The NLIS is a nationwide scheme which underpins livestock traceability. Every movement of cattle from one property (with a PIC) to another property (with a different PIC) must be recorded on the NLIS database to maintain life-time traceability.
“False or misleading information about the movement of livestock affects both the government’s and industry’s ability to trace livestock in an emergency disease or food safety incident, or to provide good evidence to trading partners the origin and ultimately the safety of the livestock product are verifiable.”
Mr Bode said despite the drought conditions affecting much of Victoria, farming obligations to their livestock remain.
“We know it’s dry but our message to farmers is to make early decisions and reach out for help – there is advice and assistance to help you,” he added.
“Agriculture Victoria is running events across the state on topics such as feed budgeting, dams, animal health plans, irrigation and farm water and more.
“Farmers can also register for a one-on-one farm advisory consultation, which includes a planning session of up to three hours.”
