August 8, 2023

 

Indonesia prepared to halt cattle imports from LSD-affected countries, minister says

 

 

Indonesia is ready to stop cattle imports from countries if they are found to be affected by lumpy skin disease (LSD), Indonesian Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said last week.

 

"We have to be ready to stop the import of cattle coming from countries with LSD. The meat cannot be consumed," he emphasised at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. He said that the handling of LSD and anthrax cases in cattle is similar and requires burning cows affected by the disease and burying their carcasses.

 

Although certain parts of animals affected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) can be consumed, meat affected by LSD is not fit for consumption, the minister added.

 

He has formed a task force comprising officers from animal health centers to inspect slaughterhouses (RPH) every week.

 

"This is another new case. We will check it and ready to stop the import," Limpo said.

 

LSD was detected in 13 cattle imported from four farms in Australia based on the results of document and physical examinations carried out on board a ship by Tanjung Priok Agricultural Quarantine officers at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, from May 25 to July 26, 2023.

 

Officers marked the imported cattle that showed clinical symptoms for further sampling after being unloaded from the ship.

 

On July 12, the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Barantan) wrote to the Australian Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Department (DAFF) to investigate the LSD findings.

 

Barantan gave the Australian government 60 days, or until September 12, 2023, to reply before it stops cattle imports due to the findings of LSD cases.

 

During the 60-day period, the Ministry of Agriculture will not stop cattle imports from Australia, but only temporarily suspend imports from the four farms suspected of being the source of transmission of the disease, Limpo said.

- Antara