FEDERAL Agriculture Minister, Joe Ludwig, has lifted the live export suspension to Indonesia at a press conference in Canberra.
Minister Ludwig said agreement had been met with the live export industry on international standards for animal welfare treatment, while exporters were ready to meet those standards and Indonesia ready to issue import permits.
Mr Ludwig said cattle exporters can seek an export permit and in seeking that permit need to prove they can implement supply chain assurances for animal protection, from the paddock, in their transportation, through to feedlots and abattoirs, with transparency and independent auditing.
He said they would need to demonstrate that capacity to the Department.
Minister Ludwig said the appropriate standards to apply to the trade were those contained in the World Animal Health guidelines (OIE).
“Exporters will have to collect and make public data on the consignments they take to market, including where animals are fattened, how they are transported and where they are slaughtered,” he said.
“Supply chains will be verified by commercial independent auditors with the entire process to be independently audited on a regular basis.
“These audit reports will be made public.
“The Government understands that producers and other businesses participating in the industry have been doing it tough.
“These reforms will provide the industry with a sustainable long term future.
“We will continue to work closely with industry to ensure the welfare of Australian cattle remains at the heart of this trade – a trade that has a strong future.”
Mr Ludwig said export companies like Elders, that comprised 60 per cent of the Indonesian trade, were very close to meeting all the conditions.
“When they are in a position to meet the supply chain assurances they will be granted an export licence,” he said.
In defending his position of responsibility and handling of the issue, Mr Ludwig said industry previously had a self regulatory model for animal welfare and he had written to industry to say those standards needed improving.
He said leading up to the May 30 program he had been given indications that animal welfare in a range of markets needed to improve.
Mr Ludwig said industry returned to him with a plan for supply chain assurances but it was “short of detail” and not sufficiently “robust” to guarantee animal welfare safeguards.
Minister Ludwig said he did not want to engage in a “blame game” but said industry had presented plans that were “too little too late”, up to the Four Corners program airing.
Federal Nationals Leader, Warren Truss, welcomed the decision to re-open trade to Indonesia, saying Mr Ludwig had worked hard to reach tonight’s decision.
But he said the Minister made the right decision initially, closing trade to 12 offending abattoirs and allowing trade to continue to those abattoirs with acceptable animal welfare standards.
Mr Truss said the decision offered hope but did not mean a full resumption of trade, with far fewer cattle to be processed due to the business disruptions of the past month, caused by the suspension.
