January 12, 2004

 

 

Australia Seeks Mutual Livestock Health Standards Agreement With UK

 

The Australian government insists on an agreement for mutual livestock health standards before resuming exports to the United Kingdom.

 

"It is going to require a great deal of negotiation to achieve a resumption of that trade and I don¡¯t think we are close to a resolution," Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said yesterday after releasing a report on the affair.

 

Saudi officials refused to unload the 55,000 sheep from the MV Cormo Express last August, claiming more than 5 percent of the animals suffered from scabby mouth disease, which violated a trade protocol between the two countries.

 

Australia said fewer than 5 percent suffered from the disease, launched a protest and suspended all shipments to the Kingdom.

 

The sheep were stranded at sea in sweltering temperatures for nearly three months after other countries in the region also refused to accept them.

 

Eritrea eventually accepted the shipment, but not before 5,400 sheep died at sea, which sparked international condemnation of Australia and the live animal trade.

 

Fearing the spat could threaten Australia's lucrative live animal trade - which delivers about 1 billion Australian dollars (US$768 million) in annual export income - Truss launched an investigation.

 

The report said: "Australian veterinarians - and this was supported by international observers who boarded the vessel - said that the number of cases of scabby mouth was exceptionally small."

 

The report recommended Australia not resume trade with Saudi Arabia "until there are robust written conditions" agreed between the two countries on independent testing of the animals and approval of their health.

 

A quarantine holding yard should also be set up in the Middle East to hold livestock if there is a dispute, the report recommended.

 

Truss said Australian officials will travel to Saudi Arabia next week to begin negotiations on those conditions.

 

The report also recommended increased government regulation to improve treatment of animals.