April 11, 2006

Malaysia lifts ban on Australian beef imports

Malaysian authorities have cleared three Australian slaughterhouses for beef  imports and trade is expected to resume immediately, industry sources said Monday (Apr 11).

The Malaysian government announced last week that three of five Australian slaughterhouses met Islamic slaughter requirements, following a visit by a Malaysian delegation in late March.

Malaysia's National Fatwa Council decided in March that "pneumatic stunning" methods employed by Australian slaughterhouses to render cattle unconscious met the religion's Halal requirements. Australian beef had been banned by Malaysia as this method was said to have caused brain haemorrhage in cattle, which is unacceptable to Islam.

Malaysia consumes 140,000 tonnes of beef a year, of which 80 percent is imported.

Australia did not export any beef to Malaysia in the first quarter of 2006 due to the ban.