Get the NFAS movement tracing guide
We're helping Australian Feedlots get the right system place before the 1st January, when new NFAS movement tracing requirements come into effect.
New NFAS biosecurity requirements
Key findings from the 2025 ABSF Annual Update and what feedlots need to know about new NFAS biosecurity movement tracing rules
The Australian beef industry has released its 2025 Sustainability Framework Annual Update, showing significant progress across environmental and production metrics. At the same time, new biosecurity tracing requirements are taking effect for feedlots from 1 January 2026.
ABSF 2025 update: key results
The 2025 Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) Annual Update reports progress across several areas. Since 2005, the industry has reduced net carbon emissions by over 70%. Beef production reached 2.75 million tonnes in 2023/24.
Key metrics include:
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69.83 million hectares of grazing land under forest cover
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71.6% reduction in solid waste to landfill in processing (2022-2024)
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81% of producers implementing practices to improve soil and water retention
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98% of cattle processed through independently accredited animal welfare facilities
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$109 million in non-tariff trade barriers alleviated
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Production costs decreased from 533¢/kg to 477¢/kg between 2022/23 and 2023/24
New NFAS tracing requirements
From 1 January 2026, NFAS-accredited feedlots must implement enhanced biosecurity movement tracing. These requirements are designed to reduce the risk of disease incursions such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
NFAS accredited feedlots must:
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Record all visitors with time-stamped entry and exit
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Complete biosecurity screening questions before entry
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Assess visitor risk levels based on recent property visits, livestock contact, and travel history
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Maintain records for audit purposes
Non-compliance may affect certification, insurance, or market access.
Implementation options
Biosecurity management software - Onside offers automated visitor recording, screening workflows, and reporting with audit trails.
Manual systems - Paper logbooks for visitor check-ins. Low initial cost but limited audit capability and higher administrative burden.
Digital forms - Spreadsheets or basic digital forms. Improved over paper but may lack integrated risk assessment and compliance reporting.
Why these changes matter
Australia's beef export markets depend on maintaining disease-free status. An FMD outbreak has been estimated to cost over $80 billion nationally across 10 years. Feedlots are critical control points where cattle from multiple sources are concentrated before processing, making visitor biosecurity controls particularly important.
Recent disease activity in neighbouring countries and industry simulation exercises have highlighted the need for stronger traceability and biosecurity protocols.
Action items for feedlots
To prepare for the 1 January 2026 requirements:
- Review current visitor check-in processes and record retention systems
- Update Biosecurity Plans to address NFAS visitor screening obligations
- Evaluate whether current systems meet compliance requirements
- Consider digital options if manual systems create compliance gaps
Future priorities
The ABSF has identified three priority areas for industry focus:
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Feed sourcing transparency and sustainability
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Enhanced traceability across the value chain
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Cross-sector partnerships for continuous improvement
The new biosecurity tracing requirements align with the framework's emphasis on traceability and data capture.
The bottom line
The Australian beef industry continues to track progress on sustainability metrics while implementing biosecurity measures to protect market access. The new NFAS requirements represent operational changes that feedlots need to address by early 2026.
For more information on meeting the new NFAS requirements, book a demo to see how Onside supports biosecurity compliance and visitor management for feedlots.
Get the NFAS movement tracing guide
We're helping Australian Feedlots get the right system place before the 1st January, when new NFAS movement tracing requirements come into effect.