Strengthening Australia's livestock traceability system

Applications have now opened to facilitate a $3.9 million investment aimed at assisting Australia’s Ag sector transition to an enhanced National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). 

The NLIS provides the sector with a national approach to tracking and monitoring livestock for food safety, disease control and animal welfare, helping Australia to meet its market access commitments.

The $3.9 million NLIS Database Uplift Transition Support grant is part of a broader initiative to maintain and enhance the NLIS, enabling it to meet growing consumer demand while boosting Australia’s biosecurity, food safety and market access.

This investment in traceability has been funded under the Bolstering Australia’s Biosecurity System Package, with the Australian Government committing $46.7 million over three years from 2022-23 to work with industry, and state and territory governments, to improve national livestock traceability arrangements. 

The grant will be administered by Integrity Systems Company on behalf of the Australian Government and will be available to existing NLIS database integrators, including equipment and device manufacturers, software providers for processors, feedlots, saleyards, third-party integrators and state and territory departments of agriculture.

Applications for the NLIS Database Uplift Transition Support grant will close 12 March 2025. Further information, including how to apply, can be found here. 

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Anthony Chisholm: 

“This latest grant will assist with the continued improvement of our world-leading livestock traceability system, demonstrating to our trading partners that Australia’s high-quality products continue to be safe, clean and sustainable.

“Our continued efforts to innovate in this space will further strengthen Australia’s traceability systems, improving our ability to respond effectively to biosecurity and food safety issues, all while supporting access to existing and new markets.

“Getting this transition right will ensure Australia maintains a contemporary, fit-for-purpose livestock traceability system well into the future.”