The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has officially certified the National Location Registry (NLR) against its Australian Farm Data Code. This certification recognises the NLR as a compliant platform, upholding privacy and data protection standards.
Over the last five years, there has been a significant increase in traceability requirements, both locally and internationally, driven by regulators such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) under the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA).
Recently ratified European Union Deforestation Regulations also call for the declaration of location data including geospatial information.
Concurrently, standards for cross-border trade have been a focus, making location identification and location data management crucial.
Enhanced biosecurity risk management is one of several critical government objectives enabled by the NLR.
Fire ant and varroa mite incursions, lumpy skin disease, and foot-and-mouth disease threats for livestock industries are top of mind, along with numerous disease vectors impacting hundreds of horticulture and plant species.
The NLR has been recognised by multiple government agencies as a critical infrastructure for the efficient and effective exchange of location data across sectors of the economy – connecting industries through interoperable supply chains. It recognises the linkages between primary industries, manufacturing, transport and logistics, and retail/trade and is used to support healthcare supply chains, effective freight, and transport (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Communications, and the Arts) as well as the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water to support materials recycling and our transition to a more circular economy.
GS1 Australia executive director and CEO, Maria Palazzolo, said, “The multiplier effect of more efficient location data sharing is an important driver of national productivity and industry competitiveness.”
Permission-based access to location information reduces cost and losses attributed to materials dispatch and delivery mistakes, makes the exchange of data (electronic messaging) possible, and supports Australian business’s participation in the digital economy.
In times of crisis, rapid and accurate access to location information is fundamental for emergency services – responding to fires, floods or food recalls.
“In this regard, the NLR is critical soft national infrastructure,” Palazzolo said.
The Global Location Number (GLN) plays a pivotal role in this landscape. Endorsed by international organisations like the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the US Customs and Border Protection's Global Business Identifier (US CBP GBI), the GLN is a key tool for location identification.
The NLR, with its rich history, supports the GLN and its registries.
With the NLR’s certification by the NFF, Australian agriculture can now confidently adopt, deploy, and support internationally recognised and endorsed global data standards. This will bolster traceability, biosecurity, and trade, underpinned by a registry certified by the national peak body, ensuring data privacy and protection.
This is a significant milestone for the NLR and a testament to our commitment to supporting Australian agriculture with robust and secure data management.
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