Industry Profile - Kaylan Pugh

Kaylan Pugh is a Quality and Compliance Officer with Integrity Systems Company (ISC) - the organisation at the forefront of Australia’s red meat food-safety and traceability systems.

Through key programs such as the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA), LPA National Vendor Declarations and the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), ISC plays a critical role in supporting market access and maintaining the industry’s social licence.

Kaylan is one of the ISC team members at the end of the phone assisting producers following LPA audits. In her role, she works directly with farmers to answer questions, guide them through corrective actions and support their return to compliance - helping ensure Australia’s red-meat sector continues to meet the highest possible standards.

Q: When people get audited, what does that involve? 

A: Producers will receive a notice that they have been selected for audit. An auditor then contacts them to arrange a time and provides a list of items to be checked and documents needed. It is usually about a two-hour on-site audit where documents, yards, and chemical storage are checked. At the end, the auditor advises of any corrective actions, writes a report and sends a copy to the producer. Producers can access the report on the LPA portal and have 30 days to provide evidence to close the corrective actions if they have any resulting from the audit.

Q: What sorts of issues do you get calls about? 

A: Most calls are about how to close a corrective action or what needs to be provided following an LPA audit. The other common issue is suspension - how to come back into the program. Most suspensions happen because people haven’t closed their corrective actions after an audit. Producers get 30 days from the date of the audit to close a corrective action and receive three reminders. Where no action is taken the next stage is to suspend accreditation until the actions are closed. This means they can’t use the LPA National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) to move livestock as accreditation isn’t active. My role is to work with producers to help them understand what is required to close corrective actions.

Q: What sorts of things lead to a corrective action? 

A: Corrective actions relate to the LPA standards – if a producer cannot show how they meet a requirement, it is raised as a nonconformity. LPA Standards relate to property risk assessments, biosecurity plans, safe and responsible animal treatments, chemical use and incoming feed, preparing livestock for dispatch,  NVDs use, NLIS identification and movement recording and animal welfare. For example, if someone hasn’t completed their animal welfare management plan, a corrective action is raised. The producer can complete it online and it can be closed off. Corrective action is an opportunity to fix up anything missing.

Q: How do you help people close corrective actions? 

A: When a producer calls, we confirm their identity, review their corrective actions and ask what they are having trouble with. We review what the auditor has identified and explain the actions required as simply as possible, we also send any templates or resources that will assist them as well.

Q: Is it common for people to get corrective actions following an audit? 

A: Yes. Some people have all the documents ready following the auditors’ initial email to arrange an audit and conform with the LPA Rules and Standards, others have a few things prepared while some don’t prepare anything and end up with multiple corrective actions. It’s not about hitting producers with a stick - it’s a learning opportunity to get them on track or improve record keeping which ultimately protects the food safety of red meat.

Q: Is an audit something farmers should be worried about? 

A: No. The word audit can worry people, but it’s not like a tax audit. It’s to make sure producers are adhering to LPA requirements on farm. While rare if something like a chemical residue detection in meat occurs from their animals, the records kept under LPA really help verifications. Audits are a check but also a great learning exercise. While corrective actions are common there are many producers who receive no corrective actions. Producers can use the LPA templates or record information however they like so as long as it’s recorded.

Q: Can farmers call if they have questions? 

A: Yes. Phoning 1800 683 111 takes farmers through to a Contact Centre. If the Contact Centre can’t answer the question, it is transferred to a Quality & Compliance Officer – like me. Farmers can also make complaints or raise animal welfare concerns through the same system.

Q: In your experience, what do farmers most commonly get wrong? 

A: NLIS transfers on the database. With sheep it used to be mob-based, but everything is changing to individual scanning and movement recording like cattle. Transfers not being recorded onto a producer’s property are the most common struggle – especially when buying livestock in from another producer. This results in lost lifetime traceability of those animals which limits the markets they can be sold to.  

Q: How does a producer correctly complete NLIS transfers? 

A: If purchasing through a saleyard, the transfer is completed by the Saleyard, but producers should still check that it has been done. For private purchases, it is the receiver’s responsibility to complete the NLIS transfer, however the seller can do it too. This means you need to either scan the animals NLIS devices on arrival or get the list from the seller. It’s always important to check that the transfer has occurred, rather than assume.

Q: Is the NLIS database online? 

A: Yes, the NLIS database is online.

Q: What about producers who aren’t computer savvy? 

A: They can call our Contact Centre on 1800 683 111 for help or many producers use a livestock agent for help with scanning and NLIS.

Q: What would you recommend farmers do if they’re unsure or worried? 

A: If they have questions, they should pick up the phone and call 1800 683 111 or send an email (support@integritysystems.com.au). We are all normal everyday people and no question is a silly question. The goal is to help producers understand their LPA and NLIS requirements.

Q: Is there anything else farmers should know? 

A: Completing the animal welfare management plan online is preferable. If producers complete it online it customises the questions based on what livestock they have and speeds up reaccreditation. It can be done with a paper version but isn’t as quick or easy to update.