April 3, 2007

Australia calls on disparity on beef exports
 

Australian beef producers have called for an explanation over an alleged inequality in export requirements for US and Australian beef exporters.

The Australian National Beef Association (ABA) said US beef can enter the Japanese market without the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) standards that Australian beef usually undergoes.

The association is requesting the Australian agriculture ministry and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) for an explanation.

ABA chairman, Brad Bellinger, said the MLA had issued a press release in Tokup stating Japanese consumers are requiring for full NLIS traceback on its beef purchases.

However, he added that beef from the US will again be on sale in Tokyo - without any NLIS traceback.

Bellinger lamented that Chile has also signed with Japan to supply beef without NLIS, stating "we have been lied to and double-crossed: - it is about time the advocates of NLIS came clean and told us the truth about why producers have been lumbered with an expensive and unworkable scheme, when most did not want it."