June 13, 2011

Indonesia to approach India for live cattle

Indonesia said it may approach India for supplies of live cattle following the six months suspension of cattle exports from Australia.

Australian has announced the suspension on alleged maltreatment of cows before being slaughtered by a number of Indonesian abattoirs.

Agriculture minister Suswono said imports from India will require amendment to the law on imports of live cattle linked to foot and mouth disease from country base to zone base.

Indonesia has a country based system allowing imports only from countries free from the contagious disease such as Australia.

By amending the law and adopting a zone base system, imports would be allowed from areas free from the disease in a country such as India.

Suswono said imports from India or other countries would not only be for feedlot cows but also breeders.

He said the Australia government had made a hasty decision to suspend supplies to Indonesia without prior investigations involving the abattoirs.

The decision had been made under public pressure after ABC TV report showing the process of slaughtering in some Indonesian abattoirs, he said.