The livestock industry can expect an easier, more efficient and cost-effective ways of meeting integrity regulations this year.
A suite of changes to the National Vendor Declaration (NVD) were being made in 2020 affecting how producers and supply chain stakeholders interacted with the integrity system.
The changes include NVD version updates, the release of a new electronic National Vendor Declaration (eNVD) system and the decommissioning of the eDEC system.
Integrity Systems Company (ISC) chief officer Dr Jane Weatherley said the changes were in response to extensive stakeholder consultation and recommendations from the industry.
"A review of all current NVD versions by SAFEMEAT in 2019 recommended a number of changes be made, resulting in the development of updated versions of LPA NVDs," Dr Weatherley said.
"The new, mobile-friendly, user-centric eNVD system has been developed based on feedback ISC has sought since the eNVD's initial launch in 2017 as an alternative to using paper NVD books."
Ms Weatherley said the new eNVD was subjected to rigorous testing ahead of its launch to the red meat industry and ISC would continue to update the system to ensure it delivered the best user experience to industry.
"With the new eNVD doing everything the eDEC does, but in a more user-friendly way, the eDEC system is being decommissioned. Running a single digital system will be a saving to industry," she said.
Updated NVD
Updated versions of Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) NVDs for all species would be available from July 1 2020, to be identified by version number 0720. Current versions of NVDs for all species would continue to be accepted until December 31, 2020.
From January 1, 2021, only the updated versions of all NVDs (0720) will be accepted for all species.
New eNVD system
The new LPA eNVD system was an updated, user-centric, mobile-friendly, version of the eNVD platform. The LPA eNVD is not just an NVD - it's a system for completing all consignment paperwork digitally including livestock assurance and health declarations.
With the new LPA eNVD covering the same information as the eDEC, the eDEC system was being decommissioned. Sale of eDEC tokens would end on 30 April 2020.
