Live Animal Export Trade
The Australian Government supports a vibrant and growing livestock sector, and an important part of it is the livestock export industry. This was worth more than $900 million in 2008 and still underpins employment of around 10 000 people in rural and regional Australia.
Australia leads the world in animal welfare practices. The Australian Government does not tolerate cruelty towards animals and will not compromise on animal welfare standards. Our ongoing involvement in the livestock export trade provides an opportunity to influence animal welfare conditions in importing countries.
The Australian Government and the livestock export industry continue to work hard with overseas countries to improve animal welfare practices. Following the broad-ranging investigation in 2003 into Australia’s livestock export industry chaired by Dr John Keniry, the previous government announced initiatives to improve animal welfare conditions in the livestock export trade including funding for a range of improvements, including better infrastructure to reduce livestock stress or injury and training for feedlot, abattoir and transport staff in overseas markets under the Live Animal Trade Program.
In the 2009 10 Budget, the Australian Government announced the Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership, which will invest $3.2 million over three years, including $1.6 million from the government with matching support from Australian producers and livestock exporters to further improve animal welfare in, and support trade with, overseas markets. The Government has also introduced legislation that provides stronger regulation of the livestock export industry. This includes a requirement to comply with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.
This legislation was an important step by the Government to overhaul the livestock export trade. Arrangements to ensure exported animals are well treated during road and sea transportation are an important part of the standards. Ships must comply with strict rules about ventilation, drainage and provision of water and food. Each animal must have access to food and water on demand and enough space to lie down, and there must be special pens for sick animals to receive veterinary care.
Mortality rates have fallen in recent years. In 2008 cattle mortality was 0.11 per cent of animals shipped. Sheep deaths followed a similar trend, falling to 0.82 per cent. The government’s policy is to bring about further improvements.
The Government and the livestock export industry are working cooperatively with our trading partners in the Middle East region to address post-arrival welfare concerns and to improve the transportation, handling and slaughter practices of livestock in overseas markets. The Department is jointly funding a number of projects with the live export industry to improve infrastructure and training to promote better animal handling and slaughter practices. Australia is the only country that requires specific animal welfare outcomes for livestock exports. Our ongoing involvement in this trade provides an opportunity to influence animal welfare conditions in importing countries.
Australia has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa region and negotiations continue with other trading partners in the region. A key element of these MOUs is that animals be unloaded on arrival regardless of their health status. The MOUs also allow us to help our trading partners improve post arrival handling and slaughter through cooperative activities based around improving animal welfare.
Australia has also signed an MOU with Egypt on Handling and Slaughter of Australian Live Animals. This MOU requires that international animal welfare standards be applied to the handling of Australian livestock (sheep and cattle) as well as some specific handling requirements for Australian cattle.
Suggestions that the live trade could be completely replaced by chilled and frozen meat fails to take into account the requirements of the market. While Australia has developed a significant trade in meat products, the lack of refrigeration and cold chain facilities, as well as strong cultural preferences for freshly slaughtered meat precludes Australia from servicing all of its export markets with processed meat products.
More information on Australia's live export industry.