September 12, 2011

Indonesia to enforce stricter cattle import regulations

Registration of all live cattle and beef importers will be required starting next month in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency and improve standards, a trade ministry official said.

Deddy Saleh, director general of foreign trade at the trade ministry that beginning October 1, importers must comply with strict regulations on feeding and slaughter facilities before the government approves their registration.

Earlier this week, a newspaper reported that Indonesia is in talks with both the US and Colombia over live cattle imports, as it aims to reduce its dependency on Australian cows.

Australia's government removed a month-long ban on live cattle exports to neighbouring Indonesia in July, saying it was satisfied the trade could resume after a scandal over mistreatment of livestock.

Australia's beef cattle herd is some 28 million head, of which live cattle exports represent around 800,000 head. About 500,000 go to Indonesia.

A data from the agriculture ministry shows that Indonesia imports an average of 700,000 feeder steers annually and consumes about 430,000 tonnes of beef annually and imports about 16% from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.