WMC REPORT - Call for Vigilance on Live Export Welfare
ARGENTINA - The beef and cattle industry around the world needs to be wary of a potential backlash from consumer and action groups over potential welfare issues in developing countries.
28 September 2010
2 minute read
Prof Neville Gregory, the International Meat Secretariat Scientific Adviser, speaking to the IMS beef committee before the World Meat Congress in Buenos Aires said that exporting countries trading with developing countries could face attacks from protest groups because of some welfare conditions that might come under scrutiny.
He said questions might be raised over conditions for transporting animals in some countries, particularly in India and South East Asia.
He said there are also concerns about animal disease problems in some countries including foot and mouth disease in Indo China, where there is a heavy illicit trade in cattle.
He said there are also foot and mouth disease and Rift Valley Fever concerns in trade of cattle between Ethiopia and Kenya and Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen and Kuwait.
He said that concerns over Halal slaughter methods in some other countries might also have a backlash on those countries trading with them.
Prof Gregory said the Australian industry in its trade with Indonesia was exemplary in the welfare and handling of animals in transport and in feedlots.
However, he warned that concerns about how the animals are slaughtered could have a backlash on the industry, even though this was a domestic issue.
He called on the industry to be wary of potential criticism and to prepare to tackle the problems before they arose.
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