National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) in the Northern Territory

NLIS is Australia's system for the identification and tracing of livestock. It is a permanent whole-of-life identification system that enables individual animals to be tracked from property of birth to slaughter for food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

• Summary of Cattle Identification and Documentation requirements for moving Stock within the NT and Interstate - last updated 01/05/2009
• NT Property Identification Code (PIC) List (List of all NT PICs, Property/Holding, Region) - last updated 02/10/2009

Property Registration / Property Identification Code (PIC)

It is a mandatory requirement for owners of a holding where cattle, buffalo, pigs, sheep, goats, camels, deer, llamas, alpacas are kept to register their holding.  Owners are issued with a certificate listing the PIC, the property portion/section number and owner details.

The PIC is used for all waybills and most documents relating to cattle and buffalo. The property name and PIC are provided to the NLIS national database.  There are currently 800 operational PIC's in the Northern Territory.

A Property Identification Code (PIC) Search Database is available to assist cattle and buffalo industry personnel, where you can view all NT Properties and PICs.

• Is your property / holding registered with a Property Identification Code (PIC) ?  PIC Registration Form 
• Not sure of your Property Identification Code (PIC)? Property Identification Code (PIC) Search Database
• How to find a Property Identification Code (PIC) using the PIC Search database
• Are your Property Identification Code (PIC) records and contact details up-to-date?  Update Property Details Form  

NLIS for Sheep and Goats in the NT - 1 January 2009

• Factsheet and Order Form for NLIS Tags for Sheep and Goats
  All states and the NT have agreed to introduce NLIS for sheep and goats. From 1 January 2009 NLIS for sheep and goats will be implemented in the NT and will follow national guidelines.

NLIS Fact Sheets - (What Cattle Owners need to Know)

• Getting started with NLIS
  Sending cattle off and Receiving cattle
• Ordering NLIS Devices
  Complete form and present to a rural merchandise outlet to order your NLIS devices.
• RFID Readers
  The technology used in NLIS devices enables identified cattle to be read electronically by a reader.
• Opening an account with the NLIS Database
  Any producer with a Property Identification Code (PIC) can set-up an NLIS Database account.
• NLIS Devices for Agistment Cattle
  When agistment cattle leave a property they must be identified with a RFID. The agistment cattle owner will have to consult the property owner about the purchase of RFIDs. 
• NLIS for saleyards
  Code of Practice for the Operation of the NLIS in Saleyards in the NT. 
• NLIS for trucking yards and dip yards
  All cattle which are unloaded at a trucking yard or dip yard for any period of time and for any purpose must have their RFID numbers and transaction details recorded to the NLIS Database.
• NLIS live export cattle
  For the purposes of livestock tracing, export depots and the Darwin wharves are treated like any other property.
• NLIS for NT Abattoirs
  Requirements for NT Abattoirs. 
• NLIS for shows, rodeos, sporting events
  The owner of a showground or rodeo ground will be responsible for ensuring that a transaction is recorded to the NLIS databse for all cattle arriving at the showground or rodeo ground.
• NLIS for Buffalo in the NT
  A working group has considered issues specific to the buffalo industry and recommends the following plan and implementation schedule.
• NLIS for Live Export Depot Owners
  Criteria for approval by Chief Inspector of Stock (CIS) to receive cattle which are not identified with an RFID.
• NLIS Interstate Contacts and NT Contacts
  For information regarding the rules governing NLIS, contact a representative in your Region (NT) or State Department (Interstate).

Principal Livestock Regulatory Officer (PLRO)

Sharon Kearney          Phone:  08 8999 2031          Fax:  08 8999 2146

For further assistance please contact representative in your Region:

For assistance with the NLIS Database contact the
NLIS Help line on 1800 654 743
E-mail:  nlis.support@mla.com.au     Fax:  (02) 9463 9136
Website:   www.nlis.mla.com.au