July 12, 2007

Indonesia mulls lifting ban on Argentine beef

Indonesia may soon lift its ban on Argentina's beef as ongoing bilateral talks between two countries in Buenos Aires are gaining momentum.

The talks referred as "Bilateral Political Consultations" were headed by Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Director General of American and European Affairs, Eddhi Hariyadhi and Argentine vice minister of foreign affairs Roberto Garcia Moritan.

Indonesia imposed a ban on beef imports from Argentina and other countries in 1992 due to the existence of

foot and mouth disease (FMD) and mad cow disease.

But Argentina says FMD, which was only detected in an isolated area, is under control. It is already exporting beef to Europe and the US.

Argentinean Embassy's Charge d'Affaires, Alicia Falkowski Morchio said they are hoping Indonesia would allow Argentine beef anew, stating FMD can't be transmitted from animals to human beings and Argentina has already exported beef to many countries.

In the Buenos Aires meeting, both delegations "analyzed progress made in commercial air transport, the possibility for the ban on beef imports from Argentina to be lifted and the exchange of dairy products, as well as discussing projects in the naval industry, urban waste recycling and the conversion of Jakarta's public transport to CNG (compressed natural gas)," the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship said in a statement.