LMC highlights FQAS online services available to producers

THE Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) is encouraging producers to take advantage of the range of Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS) services available online, providing convenient access to essential documentation.

The online service, available via lmcni.com has been developed to offer producers instantaneous access to key documentation, such as FQAS record books, feed records and veterinary medicine records. This helps streamline access and removes reliance on postal services or in person collections.

Producers who wish to join FQAS can also do so online by completing and submitting the electronic application form. Payment for the Scheme is also supported online, allowing producers to renew their participation fees or pay initial application fees at a time convenient to them. Alternatively, staff can process card payments via telephone during normal business hours.

Analytical data highlights the growing use of FQAS digital services, with FQAS documentation viewed over 4000 times the past year. From here users downloaded a wide variety of FQAS documents, averaging 42 downloads per month. The online payment option proved popular, accounting for almost one fifth of all payments received over the past year. A further 36% of payments were made via telephone. This brought the total electronic payments processed to over 55% for the year.

Commenting Gillian Davis, LMC Head of Quality Assurance said, “We are committed to making FQAS services as accessible as possible for producers. Providing documentation online enables producers to access and obtain the elements they require instantly. This in turn removes the barrier of reliance on postal services, while helping them to complete documentation at a time which works around their farming commitments. A growing number of downloads and online payments underscores the value in this service and its potential to further support growing producer needs.

“FQAS is committed to increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact, moving forward we will investigate how electronic services can be developed to reduce reliance on paper and postage, in turn aiming to provide a more timely and effective service for producers.”