May 12, 2004

 

 

Australian Pork Industry Under Threat

 

The Australian pork industry might be reduced by a third if it fails to reverse a ruling that will allow the importation of pig meat from 11 countries.

 

According to Mr Nigel Smith, sales and processing manager of QAF Meat Industries at Corowa, five separate appeals against an import risk analysis compiled by Biosecurity Australia were rejected by an independent panel.

 

The risk analysis will allow for the importation of pig meat under strict quarantine protocols.

 

But Australian Pork Ltd, the peak group for the nations 2500 pig farmers, is threatening legal action for Biosecurity's handling of the risk analysis report.

 

Mr Smith said the failure of the appeals meant the start of a new quarantine regime for pork imports, which would lower the level of protection now enjoyed by the Australian industry.

 

"Our health status is second to none in the world which gives us a cost advantage," he said.

 

"I think it's very sad and very tragic given that some export markets we have developed over the past five to eight years have been because other countries have fallen over with regard to their disease status."

 

"What we are doing is bargaining away our advantage."

 

Mr Smith said the pig industry would look at all its options to defend the decision to allow the imports. They include legal action and ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government.

 

"This is something the industry will be taking on board in a vigorous way and we will be leaving all our options open," he said.

 

Mr Smith said the industry held concerns about the transmission of imported diseases, particularly post weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) which was not found in Australia but in most major pork-producing countries.

 

"If the disease is found here you are looking to add 15 or 20 per cent to your cost of production," he said.

 

"Potentially this industry may have to contract by one-third because we cannot compete with the subsidies offered to the imports."

 

Australia's director of animal and plant quarantine Mr Michael Taylor said the new regime would not put the nations pig herd at risk.