AniMark has been working with the Department of Agriculture Water and Environment on the regulatory approval required to allow LGAP to be implemented. Approval is aligned with the implementation of the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2020 planned to come into force on 28 March 2021. An interim arrangement is being implemented to allow LGAP audits be accepted in place of an ESCAS audit until the relevant legislation changes come into effect.

The AniMark Board has approved Vietnam, Indonesia,  Kuwait and/or the United Arab Emirates as first launch markets for LGAP. Ongoing engagement with industry is occurring to secure support and uptake of LGAP across initial launch markets.

No. ESCAS is an ongoing regulatory framework of the Australian Government under which an exporter must be able to demonstrate compliance with four pillars; animal welfare requirements based on guidelines from the OIE, traceability and control through the supply chain and auditing of animal welfare requirements.

LGAP, designed to deliver against these pillars and bridge the gaps in ESCAS, would become the regulatory enabler for ESCAS; being the method exporters use to demonstrate ESCAS compliance and ensure animal welfare.

AniMark is an independent company that operates with an independent skills-based Board. AniMark will be approved by the Government to conduct its operations and the Government will be able to monitor and audit AniMark’s operations. AniMark will have strict operating provisions in relation to the management and notification of non-conformances to Government.

AniMark has two independent committees; the Rules and Integrity Committee and the Standards Committee in place to provide expertise in relation to conformity assessment and certification.

LGAP improves animal welfare by encouraging and incentivising improved behaviour and therefore animal handling practices. Poor practices are also identified more effectively and managed accordingly. Ultimately a nonconforming facility or operator stands to lose their certification and therefore their ability to send and receive Australian livestock. Licensing arrangements remain the responsibility of the Department and the Department will retain its right to suspend or cancel export licenses.

By defining what behaviours are expected, incentivising facilities and operators to meet with these expectations, providing support and guidance to assist practice change, independently monitoring such practices, fostering continual improvement and enforcing consequences when problems occur, LGAP can foster powerful change to animal welfare practices.

The development of LGAP was undertaken over the course of several years and involved a diverse and extensive range of stakeholders including subject matter experts, animal welfare groups (including Prof Temple Grandin), livestock producer groups, representatives from the Department, in-market representatives as well as livestock exporters.

Consideration was also given to more than 25 international and domestic standards, guides, codes and programs including those provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and ISEAL Alliance.

The provision of clear, unambiguous standards, the use of internal, external and unscheduled auditing, the identification of nonconformities, the expectation of corrective action being taken, the introduction of Levels as a pathway for improvement, the use of risk assessments and the provision of supporting tools and resources all contribute to continual improvement and the attainment of higher levels of animal welfare.