Producers reminded to ensure their stock brand and PIC are current
Livestock producers are reminded that to own and move or trade livestock, a valid brand and property identification code (PIC) are required to avoid delays at saleyards and processors.
Producers who do not renew their brand on time are automatically deregistered, meaning they are unable to sell or move stock legally.
Importance of a current brand and PIC
Recently, several consignments of stock have been delivered to saleyards and abattoirs where the brands and PIC were not current.
These stock cannot be moved or sold until the brand is renewed, creating considerable delay and inconvenience for both the owner and the saleyard or processor.
All livestock owners are required to register with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA).
The stock owner register enables the traceability and biosecurity of Western Australia’s livestock industries and supports our ability to export livestock and livestock products, which were valued at $2 billion in 2015-16.
When someone registers to own livestock in WA, the department issues them with a stock brand and PIC.
The brand is used to identify the animals and the PIC is used to identify the property on which the animals are kept.
Check the National PIC Register
Every PIC is published on the National PIC Register and is used by the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program to accredit producers to use the commercially required suite of National Vendor Declarations (NVDs).
If a producer has not paid the renewal fee for their livestock registration with the department before it expires, their PIC will be deregistered.
This means they cannot use an NVD and the PIC will not be recognised by saleyard and abattoir operators.
The LPA NVD waybill is an industry-driven initiative to assure Australia’s domestic and export markets of the safety of Australian beef, lamb and goat meat.
Commercial buyers will not purchase stock from producers without LPA accreditation.
Animals belonging to producers who have not renewed their registration and who do not hold a valid PIC cannot be processed until the PIC has been reactivated and the traceability of stock confirmed.
The department sends out a re-registration letter to all producers five weeks before their brand and PIC are due to expire. This allows time for producers to return the form with payment for the PIC to be renewed.
Producers need to be aware that following deregistration the brand renewal process is not instant and once payment is made to the department and the PIC renewed, the producer is required to contact LPA and request their PIC be reinstated on the accredited list.
To check the expiry date of a PIC, producers can enter the code in ‘Search by PIC’ at the Stock Brands Enquiry webpage.
This also provides an opportunity to ensure all properties are correctly listed for your PIC. Adding or removing a property to a registration at any time is free of charge.
To check LPA accreditation contact 1800 683 111.
For more information contact Peter Gray, Registrar of Stock and Apiaries, South Perth, on +61 (0)8 9368 3551.