[Tradeban] live export news

[Sabina]

OFFICIALS ADMIT LACK OF CONTROL OVER GLOBAL SHEEP WELFARE STANDARDS

May 23 - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestries (DAFF) 
officials have admitted that new agreements with Middle Eastern 
countries will not stop the unacceptable slaughter of sheep exported 
from Australia.

Officers were questioned in Senate Estimates today about what has 
been done to improve welfare standards.

DAFF spokesman Paul Morris says cattle must be killed in approved 
abattoirs in Egypt, but there is no control over what happens to 
sheep.

"Our approach generally in the region has been to ensure that the 
welfare of the animals is protected right up to the point of 
unloading and then to work with the governments in the region in 
terms of issues beyond the point of unloading," he said.

"It's difficult when it's a responsibility of the governments in 
those countries, for the animal welfare generally in those 
governments, for us to make demands on them which we don't have the 
power to enforce."

http://www.abc. <http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/2006/s1931058.htm>
net.au/rural/news/content/2006/s1931058.htm

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LIVE EXPORTS TO LIBYA SET TO RESUME

May 8 - Australia is set to commence exporting livestock to Libya 
for the first time in almost a decade after representatives from the 
two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today 
covering all procedures involved in the export trade.

The MoU was signed in Canberra by Australian Agriculture Minister, 
Peter McGauran, and Libyan Secretary for Agriculture, Animals and 
Marine Wealth, Dr Abu Baker Al-Mabrook Al-Mansouri.

Mr McGauran said the MoU detailed the requirements necessary for the 
livestock trade to start up, including that a comprehensive 
inspection regime be in place as well as a secure quarantine holding 
facility in Libya. Australia has not exported livestock to Libya 
since 1999 when the trade ended due to commercial reasons.

"Under this MoU, the industry will have to adhere to the highest 
animal welfare standards - from the time the livestock is purchased 
in Australia until after they are unloaded in Libya," Mr McGauran 
said.

"The protocols contained within the MoU - which covers cattle, sheep 
and goats for slaughter and breeding, as well as horses and camels - 
will make sure the health and welfare of the exported animals remain 
at internationally acceptable levels.

"The MoU is a significant win for Australia's livestock producers, 
with the industry predicting the value of the trade to Libya could 
in time grow to about $40 million a year."

Mr McGauran said today's agreement was Australia's eighth bilateral 
MoU on live animal trade to the Middle East and followed similar 
arrangements with the United Arab Emirates (December 2004), Kuwait 
(March 2005), Eritrea (April 2005), Saudi Arabia and Jordan (May 
2005).

Australia signed two separate MoUs relating to live trade with Egypt 
in October 2006.

MoUs on the live trade with Middle East countries form part of the 
Government's response to the 2003 Keniry Livestock Export Review. 
Along with developing MoUs, the Government has introduced improved 
standards covering livestock exports, has tightened the export 
licensing process and has drafted incident response plans.

"The livestock export industry is important to regional and rural 
Australia, and it is essential that government and industry continue 
to work closely to address the broader animal welfare issues 
associated with the livestock trade," Mr McGauran said.

Source: www.farmonline.com.au

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LIVE EXPORT COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW CAWOOD

May 10 - ONE of the world's biggest agricultural export 
opportunities has come Australia's way, as Russia emerges from its 
post-communism disorder rich with oil and gas money, and a 
determination to rebuild its collapsed rural sector.

The Russians are looking to Australia to supply beef and dairy 
cattle, but the exercise has strong potential to widen into other 
livestock and expertise from all sectors of agriculture.

Estimated orders for 65,000 head of beef cattle are likely in the 
next year alone.

Two privately-arranged shipments of about 3000 heifers each have 
already left Australia; a third shipment of 2000 heifers is being 
assembled by Austrex.

Previous shipments, predominantly made up of Hereford and Angus 
heifers, have already been a valuable source of revenue to drought-
stricken breeders.

Angus Australia reported that sales have already brought $1.4 
million to its members, "at prices above the going rates".

Australia is being targeted by the Russians because of its lack of 
livestock disease, the quality of its genetics, and the proven 
ability of its agricultural sector to succeed in a challenging and 
varied climatic environment without subsidies.

Source: www.farmonline.com.au

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MIDDLE EAST FEEDLOTS GOING MODERN

May 4 - EDUCATION about stock handling and animal welfare is leading 
to modern feedlotting facilities being built in the Middle East.

This feedlot is owned by Al Jabri and is situated outside Jeddah in 
Saudi Arabia.

The sheep feedlot is made up of 10 depots each with a capacity of 
about 50,000 sheep. The depots are in relative proximity to each 
other but at the same time separated to provide quarantine barriers 
as the company is a major importer of livestock into the Kingdom 
from a number of different countries around the world including 
North Africa, South America and China.

In addition the farm has a large scale cattle feedlot and is 
presently building a feedlot to house camels also.

The company also owns another feedlot closer to Jeddah that can 
accommodate 150,000 sheep along with several thousand cattle and 
camels.

Suleiman Al Jabri Establishment is a major importer of sheep and 
cattle from Australia and last year was the contractor supplying the 
total sacrificial sheep requirements for the Haij.

Source: www.farmonline.com.au

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://pacat.org/pipermail/tradeban_pacat.org/attachments/20070525/a24f0c30/attachment.html