July 14, 2008
Indonesian farmers question ban on New Zealand beef
Fishermen's and Farmers' Contact Body (KTNA) of Indonesia said the recent ban on beef from New Zealand will cause scarcity in the local market and may necessitate beef imports from countries such as Brazil.
Chairman of KTNA Winarno Tohir said Indonesia was so far meeting its need for beef with imports from New Zealand.
Yet on July 7, the Director General of Animal Husbandry at the Agriculture Ministry had suspended import of beef, carcasses and innards from New Zealand, questioning their halal status.
On July 11-12 the Brazilian president will visit Indonesia and this moment might be used to negotiate possible import of Brazilian beef, Tohir added.
The group expressed concern that import from Brazil would spread foot and mouth disease (FMD) to local husbandry, as Brazil has not been stated as FMD-free.
Tohir further questioned the ministry's authority to take a decision on ground of halal status, because requirement on halal status should come from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).
Indonesia has imported beef from the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Import from New Zealand in 2007 has reached 14,000 tonnes and as of June 2008, the import has amounted to 7,942 tonnes.
