March 15, 2006

Malaysia to lift ban on Australian beef imports in April

Malaysia plans to lift a temporary ban on imports of Australian beef next month after its Islamic advisory body determined that slaughter practices there met religious requirements, an official said Wednesday.

Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced Tuesday that five Australian slaughterhouses have been approved by religious officers who accompanied him on a visit to Australia last week, according to his aide, Sabri Mansur.

"Our muftis (religious leaders) studied the method used and found it is acceptable," Sabri said "The Australian authorities also agreed to our minister's request to allow Islamic officers to monitor the slaughterhouses."

The National Fatwa Council, which advises the government on matters pertaining to Islam, decided that "pneumatic stunning" used by Australian slaughterhouses met the religion's halal requirements.

Islamic authorities in predominantly Muslim Malaysia initially believed that the method of rendering cattle temporarily unconscious with a special device before killing them violated Islam's rules on humane slaughter.

Imports from Australian slaughterhouses were temporarily suspended last July, and in February Malaysia considered a long-term ban. The suspension will be lifted next month, Sabri said.

Halal beef comes from cows that are killed by a cut to their jugular vein from which all the blood from the carcass is drained.