SFO meeting in Adelaide on sheep and goat eID

Leaders from the nation’s state farming organisations: NSW Farmers, Livestock SA, Victorian Farmers Federation, AgForce Queensland, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, WA Farmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA met today in Adelaide and online to discuss reforms to sheep and goat traceability announced by Agriculture Ministers last year.

It was agreed to achieve a harmonised approach that:

1. State and federal governments need to invest increased funding to financially assist producers to transition to individual electronic identification to meet state government implementation requirements. Education for producers should be included in this funding.
2. Continued efforts by industry and governments to reduce producer costs associated with electronic identification infrastructure and devices.
3. The need for the National Livestock Identification System database to have the required capability and capacity to handle increased data prior to states commencing mandatory electronic identification, and this includes to ensure that the user interface is accessible and usable by producers.
4. Support Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) recommendations for traceability

After such a productive meeting, attendees have agreed to hold another meeting of SFO representatives in August to progress these issues.