THE new National Vendor Declaration (NVD) forms – issued nearly 12 months ago – are causing headaches for farmers, agents and industry, as the deadline looms for the forms to be actively used.
However, in a country where the forms to be used differ across States, Territories and even districts, there is a view that compliance is a commercial decision for farmers.
Some agents actively promote the use of NVDs, but discount its relevance beyond commercial gain and have questioned why a national electronic form cannot be used.
Even though many abattoirs have been actively requiring the new 0413 forms, Stock & Land viewed the NVDs at the Sale special store sheep sale last week where only one-quarter of vendors complied.
While many farmers are rapidly seeking the new forms, Meat & Livestock Australia are fielding, on some days, more than 1000 telephone enquiries, and some farmers wonder why they have to pay so much money for a form that only differs in one question.
According to SAFEMEAT Partners chair, Ross Keane, a partnership between the red meat and livestock industry and the State and Federal Governments of Australia, use of the 0413 NVD is commercially-driven.
SAFEMEAT Partners ensures Australian red meat and livestock products achieve the highest standards of safety and hygiene from the farm to the consumer.
"Nolan Meats was the first to give notice they wouldn't buy cattle without 0413 from July 1 last year. They gave the industry four to five month's notice," Mr Keane said.
"Others followed and we knew as an industry that those export meat buyers packing for Thailand, Russia, Saudi Arabia and China required the new form.
"Agents and processors were changing the old forms by hand and it was creating a lot of confusion with overseas customers."
Mr Keane said the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) then encouraged people to move to the new form by February 1 this year.
"Then JB Swift said they wouldn't bid on cattle and sheep without the 0413 form from January 1 and Teys gave out a final date of March 1.
"And since then various others have said they only want the new form.
"So we started raising public awareness that we are going to phase out the previous form in the beginning of 2015.
He said it was still legal to use the old form.
"It's a traceability issue ... bottom line is, if you are selling to a processor exporting, even on a restricted licence, you need to use it."
Mr Keane said he had been fielding telephone calls from farmers, many angry, about why they have to change to the new form.
Western Australia is the only State which compulsorily requires a National Vendor Declaration (NVD) to be filled in, according to Mr Keane, chair of SAFEMEAT Partners.
He also said in most States, using NVD is a voluntary decision, the Northern Territory has the weakest biosecurity compliance in Australia, using its own forms.
Mr Keane also has some advice for livestock agents, many of whom view NVD as poor.
"There are some good agents out there, but for the rest they have to work out one day that they are selling food," he said.
"We export more than 70 per cent of our meat production in this country and 50pc and more of the national kill, I think it's fair to require the 0413 form.
"But if the local slaughterhouse doesn't export meat and doesn't require the form, that's also fair.
"I think most feedlots going into higher value markets do require the 0413 form and the Animal Health Statement be filled in."
The Animal Health Statement (AHS) is largely voluntary but compulsory to be filled in for animals sold into or out of New South Wales.
FOB Livestock agent Greg Wrigglesworth, Sale, admits many farmers are not using the new NVD form.
"I'm telling farmers to get them but we have so many little producers that only sell once a year that we aren't realising until sale day they haven't got the new form," Mr Wrigglesworth said.
"And when it comes to the AHS, although they are a good idea, they are not in common practice."
Meat & Livestock Australia's managing director, Richard Norton, confirmed extra staff had been employed to deal with the increased level of enquiries.
"We are aware of the frustration many producers are experiencing about SAFEMEAT's intention to phase out pre-2013 versions of the LPA NVD as well as the subsequent and unacceptable difficulties in accessing NVD ordering services," Mr Norton said.
"Resources for the NVD book ordering service were increased following SAFEMEAT's announcement in November last year, however, this service is still experiencing a higher volume of calls than anticipated - on some days up to three times higher than before Christmas.
"Further funding has again been allocated and operating lines have tripled to account for the increased demand.
"The NVD book ordering service is contracted to an external company, and under MLA's guidance, they have been increasing the number of operators to try and address the increased caller wait times.
"Everything is being done to ensure all calls and emails are being addressed as soon as possible."
