The National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme was the first agriculturally based quality assurance scheme implemented in Australia and was proactively developed to ensure that every accredited feedlot met legislative requirements and exceeded community expectations. It is managed by state Governments and industry representatives and is recognised under various state legislation. Under the scheme, feedlots are independently audited each year to ensure compliance with animal welfare, environment, biosecurity, food safety and product integrity legislation. NFAS requirements are continually updated as developments in legislation, codes of practice, guidelines, technology, best management practice and science occur. For more information on NFAS see the AUSMEAT site or contact 1800 621 903

The Modules and Elements from the NFAS standards are: 

Quality Management System

Training

Staff members are adequately trained to ensure they have the appropriate skills and knowledge to competently perform the duties required of them.

Internal auditing and corrective action

Internal audits are performed to review ongoing compliance of the feedlot's activities to the NFAS Standards and appropriate corrective and preventative actions are undertaken when non-conformances are identified.

Quality Records

Records are kept that provide documented evidence of the feedlot's compliance to the NFAS Standards.

Document control

All documents relevant to the NFAS Standards are controlled enabling the review of their currency and that out of date or superseded documents are withdrawn and replaced with the new version.

Chemical Inventory

Only legally obtained and properly labelled chemicals are available for use on the property and that an accurate inventory of all chemicals purchased and stored on the feedot is maintained.

Review of Product rquirements

Proposed arrangements for the sale of product being certified through the application of NFAS Standards are thoroughly reviewed prior to acceptance by the feedlot.

Food Safety Management  

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Property Risk Assesstment

The risk of livestock being exposed to sites that are unacceptably contaminated with organochlorine or other persistent chemicals has been minimised.

Safe and Responsible Animal Treatments

Animal treatments are administered in a safe and responsible manner to minimise the risk of chemical residues and physical hazards in livestock intended for human consumption.

Fodder Crop, Grain and Pasture Treatments and Stock Foods

The risk of chemical residues in livestock is minimised by the management of their exposure to foods containing unnaceptable chemical contamination and the risk of animal products being fed to ruminant livestock intended for human consumption eliminated.

Preparation for Dispatch of Livestock

All livestock selected for transport are fit for load out and the risk of stress and contamination of livestock during assembly and transport is minimised.

Livestock Transactions and Movements

Traceability of the current status of all livestock with respect to treatment or exposure to relevant food safety hazards for all livestock movements between livestock production enterprises including to slaughter and live export is maintained.

Livestock Management

Livestock Identification

A stock identification system must be implemented on the feelot that enables maintenace of appropriate management records, traceability of stock on the property and when dispatched from the property; to ensure the integrity of product described as Grain Fed and to prevent contaminated or treated animals unknowingly being sold for human consumption prior to expiry of the Withholding Period (WHP) or Export Slaughter Interval (ESI).

Livestock Husbandry and Presentation

Livestock are presented for sale or slaughter in a manner that minimises damage to carcase, hide and skin quality attributes.

Livestock Transport

The risk of injury; bruising; hide and skin damage during transportation of stock is minimised.

Animal welfare

The welfare of livestock is not compromised whilst within the control of persons responsible for their care and well being, and that prompt and appropiate remedial action is taken when required.

Accredited feedlots are required to implement the "National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) Rules & Standards" which refer to requirements in the “Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Cattle”. Feedlot cattle are also submitted to regular health inspections, feedlot managers must undertake contingency planning with respect to emergency response management and must report incidents of abnormal levels of morbidity or mortality.

Excessive Heat Load

The feedlot industry has invested significant resources to develop sophisticated tools for predicting and monitoring potential Excessive Heat Load events. The NFAS requires that the likelihood of this sort of event is monitored, and prompt and appropriate remedial action is taken when required.

Biosecurity, Incident reporting and Contingency Reporting

The likelihood of disease entry into and spread from the Feedlot and associated utilization area is minimised. Incident reporting requirements are undertaken when  a reportable incident occurs. And satisfactory actions are taken when an unusual emergency situation occur.

Environmental management

The NFAS requires that environment management procedures are established and implemented in adherence with the National Beef Cattle Feedlot Environmental Code of Practice and the relevant authority regulations.

These procedures ensure clear and achievable environmental objectives are outlined and performance indicators, operational practices and monitoring programs are documented. Feedlot management must be aware of and adhere to their environmental legislative requirements. Employees must be aware of and adhere to their environmental management responsibilities through adequate training.

Environmental performance is reviewed on an annual basis or as required by the regulatory authority. Awareness of current and developing industry wide practices is maintained to achieve objectives of the Environmental Code.

Product Integrity  

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NFAS Delivery Documentation

NFAS delivery documentation is managed to ensure correct use and the accurate description  of Cattle.

Feedlot rations

Feeding standards of the AUS-MEAT Minimun Standards for Grain Fed Beef and other feeding Standards are met. Ration analysis records are to be maintained which are to conform with the NFAS average Metabolizable Energy content requirement of the fed ration.