Property Identification Codes (PICs) Explained

Note Number: AG1248
Published: March 2007
Updated: August 2009

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia's system for the permanent identification and tracing of cattle for market access, food safety and disease control purposes.

What is a PIC?

A property identification code or PIC is an eight character code allocated by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or equivalent authority in other states/territories to identify a livestock producing property.

Victorian PICs begin with the numeral 3, followed by 4 letters and 3 more numerals, eg, 3ABCD123. The first 2 letters identify the municipality of the property.

Who should have a PIC?

Cattle, sheep and goat producers are required by law to have a PIC for the properties on which they graze livestock. Pig producers have long had a tattoo number that identified their property and in the last few years this has also been linked to a PIC. In late 2006, regulations were introduced requiring owners of alpacas, llamas, deer or more than 500 poultry to obtain a PIC if they do not already have one (eg. A property owner may have obtained a PIC in the past for cattle). The term poultry is defined as domesticated fowl, chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, guinea fowl, pigeons, emus or ostriches.

Property Identification Codes � Why?

The purpose of property identification is partly for tracing and controlling disease and residue problems that may be detected after leaving the farm, but also for locating properties and owners that have livestock when an outbreak of a disease that may threaten their enterprise is detected in an area. Traceability systems provide confidence to consumers in domestic and overseas markets that the products they buy are of good quality.

How to apply for a PIC

A producer obtains a PIC by completing an application form, including the council property number found on the rates notice, which identifies the land. Application forms are available from DPI offices, by phoning the PIC hotline 1800 678 779 to have a form sent by mail or fax, or online at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/nlis.

All pieces of land owned should be identified against the PIC. If separate pieces of land in the same locality are run as one operation, they may be run under a single PIC. Information provided is strictly controlled by legislation and is only released to certain specific groups of people.

Poultry producers who already have a PIC are advised to call the PIC hotline at their convenience (9.00-4.30 weekdays) to record the types of animal that they have and the fact that they also have poultry.

The figure provided shows the PIC form producers are required to fill out if they graze livestock on property

AG1248

What about agistment and lease properties?

PICs are allocated to a parcel of land that may consist of more than one block within the one locality, operating as part of one livestock enterprise. As long as the land on which the livestock are agisted and leased is in the same locality, ie in the same shire or in a neighboring shire, then both blocks of land can be covered by the �home� PIC.

For example Tom Jones owns 2 blocks of land separated by 10km. Both blocks are grazed by Tom�s livestock and exist within the one shire. One �home� PIC covers both blocks of land as Tom listed the 2 blocks on the PIC application.

Contact the DPIs NLIS hotline and follow �how to apply for a PIC� to cover agistment or leased land within the same locality to the �home� PIC.

Where can I find more information?

	Phone	Email
Kellyanne Semple	03 5430 4302	Kellyanne.semple@dpi.vic.gov.au
Kate McCue	03 5561 9902	Kate.mccue@dpi.vic.gov.au
Erica Schelfhorst	03 5430 4560	Erica.schelfhorst@dpi.vic.gov.au
Fiona Baker	03 5624 2234	Fiona.baker@dpi.vic.gov.au
Gary McLarty	03 5735 4344	Gary.mclarty@dpi.vic.gov.au
Annemaree Docking	03 5430 4808	Annemaree.docking@dpi.vic.gov.au

General Information:

The following are useful contacts for further information:

Specific NLIS Database Queries for the MLA:

NLIS Hotline: 1800 NLIS ID (1800 654 743)

To access the NLIS database

visit NLIS website

NLIS Queries in Victoria

For the NLIS in Victoria call DPI�s toll-free NLIS Helpline on 1800 678 779 during business hours.

DPI Website:

DPI NLIS information

NLIS Workshops

To attend a workshop on NLIS contact one of the NLIS extension team listed above.

Ordering NLIS Devices Online

You can now order NLIS devices on-line using a credit card by going to the DPI web site www.dpi.vic.gov.au/nlis and following the prompts to Livestock Tags Online.

Acknowledgements

This Information Note was originally developed by Erica Schelfhorst and was published in March 2007.

It was reviewed by:

Chris Cordiner, Farm Services Victoria. August 2009.