14 July 2017
Species: All livestock
Country: All countries
For information:
- Department Live Animal Export Officers
- Livestock Exporters
- LiveCorp
- ALEC
Purpose
To provide exporters with a checklist for completing Independent Performance Audit Reports (IPARs) for their supply chains to ensure they are complete and accurate upon submission to the department.
Background
The Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) requires exporters to effectively manage animal welfare, together with control and traceability, at all stages of the supply chain through to the point of slaughter. Both new and existing supply chains must be independently verified and audited to ensure they are consistently meeting ESCAS standards.
New supply chains and facilities are assessed through Initial Independent Audit Reports (IIARs), while those already approved are subject to regular IPARs. The frequency of IPARs is dependent on the risks associated with the market, supply chain and facilities, and may be set to annual, biannual or quarterly schedules.
The department commonly receives IPARs with inaccurate or incomplete information, including incorrect addresses, missing facilities and failure to account for multiple slaughter lines. These types of errors delay processing of IPARs and result in non-compliances being recorded against exporter supply chains.
To assist exporters submit complete and accurate IPARs an ‘Independent Performance Audit Report Exporter Checklist’ has been developed.
See Attachment A to preview IPAR Checklist for Exporters.
Instructions
IPARs should be completed in accordance with EAN 2015-06 – Revised risk-based auditing requirements for ESCAS and EAN 2016-08 – Amendments to the ESCAS animal welfare audit standards and checklist, which includes animal welfare guidance and template documents.
The attached ‘Independent Performance Audit Report Exporter Checklist’ is an auxiliary resource for exporters preparing IPAR submissions. It is intended to assist exporters with preparing the mandatory ‘ESCAS Summary Audit Report’ available in EAN 2016-08. It is a reference document only and does not need to be submitted to the department.
Please note that failure to accurately complete any of the items in the ‘ESCAS Summary Audit Report’ may result in non-compliances being recorded against exporter supply chains and commensurate regulatory action, which may include suspension and removal of supply chains or facilities. More detailed information on the department’s regulatory framework.
Erin Payne
Live Animal Export Branch
Exports Division
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Phone: 02 6272 3933
Email: Livestock Export