Department of Agriculture and Food inspectors will continue to monitor saleyards, abattoirs and export depots in 2014 to ensure animal welfare and traceability compliance, recently completing training to boost their expertise.
Eight department Livestock Compliance Unit (LCU) officers were put through their paces when they completed their Certificate IV Statutory Compliance qualifications which will assist them monitor compliance under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
LCU Senior Inspector Charlotte McIntyre said the training would further assist officers investigate possible offences and enforce legislation through a variety of means, from providing advice to issuing a legal direction notice, or prosecution.
“We investigate alleged breaches of the Act and take regulatory action where appropriate,” Ms McIntyre said.
“Members of the public report animal cruelty to the RSPCA, and some reports which involve commercial livestock are referred to the LCU.”
Ms McIntyre said the LCU also had a monitoring role.
“Our officers are regularly out in the regions inspecting where livestock are congregated such as at saleyards, export depots and abattoirs,” she said.
“We check for compliance with stock identification and movement requirements and compliance with animal welfare legislation.
“This includes examining waybills, checking tags, earmarks, brands and property identification codes (PICs), and cross-referencing information against the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) livestock database.
“Livestock health and condition is monitored, and any animals which present as being unfit for transport are identified and appropriately managed. A follow-up investigation determines the most appropriate course of action in each case.”
Ms McIntyre said the officers’ livestock expertise, understanding of the supply chain and traceability mechanisms also enabled them to identify suspicious livestock activities or transactions.
“We help the WA Police during investigations with expert livestock advice, including livestock identification and traceability,” she said.
Department of Agriculture and Food inspectors will continue to monitor saleyards, abattoirs and export depots in 2014 to ensure animal welfare and traceability compliance, recently completing training to boost their expertise.
Eight department Livestock Compliance Unit (LCU) officers were put through their paces when they completed their Certificate IV Statutory Compliance qualifications which will assist them monitor compliance under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
LCU Senior Inspector Charlotte McIntyre said the training would further assist officers investigate possible offences and enforce legislation through a variety of means, from providing advice to issuing a legal direction notice, or prosecution.
“We investigate alleged breaches of the Act and take regulatory action where appropriate,” Ms McIntyre said.
“Members of the public report animal cruelty to the RSPCA, and some reports which involve commercial livestock are referred to the LCU.”
Ms McIntyre said the LCU also had a monitoring role.
“Our officers are regularly out in the regions inspecting where livestock are congregated such as at saleyards, export depots and abattoirs,” she said.
“We check for compliance with stock identification and movement requirements and compliance with animal welfare legislation.
“This includes examining waybills, checking tags, earmarks, brands and property identification codes (PICs), and cross-referencing information against the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) livestock database.
“Livestock health and condition is monitored, and any animals which present as being unfit for transport are identified and appropriately managed. A follow-up investigation determines the most appropriate course of action in each case.”
Ms McIntyre said the officers’ livestock expertise, understanding of the supply chain and traceability mechanisms also enabled them to identify suspicious livestock activities or transactions.
“We help the WA Police during investigations with expert livestock advice, including livestock identification and traceability,” she said.