Indonesia Delay Plans to Import Brazilian Beef
INDONESIA - The results of a study by the Independent Risk Analysis Team has concluded that Indonesia does not have the required facilities and infrastructure to detect and prevent potential mouth and nail (PMK) diseases in cattle. Therefor the government’s intention of importing Brazilian beef is unlikely to happen in the near future.
14 October 2008
2 minute read
“A diagnostic laboratory to detect these viruses with adequate technical capacity is still unavailable,” read point 7 (d) in the team’s summary. According to TempoInteraktif, the report was read out at a meeting led by Veterinarian Community Health director of the Livestock directorate general, Turni Rusli Syamsudin. The nearest laboratory of the kind required is located in Thailand and it takes four days to get any confirmation when such a clinical case occurs in Indonesia.
The study also said that the animal health system in the country is still underequipped and there is no clear guideline to prevent and eradicate the diseases. Moreover, there is no emergency fund if the mouth, hoof and nail plague ever hits the country. “As long as the requirements are not met, we should not talk about importing beef,” said Indonesian Veterinarian Watch secretary Tjiptardjo after the meeting.
According to TempoInteraktif, Indonesians need about 350.000 – 400.000 tons of beef or 1,7 – 2 million head of cattle, 30 percent of which is imported from Australia, New Zealand and the US. The import to these countries refers to the Agriculture Ministerial Decree no. 754/1992 on Imported Cattle Product Imports from PMK-contaminated countries applying a country-based policy.
But in order to acquire the needed supply of beef at chaper prices, the government sought another source. Brazil was one alternative, a country with an excess in cattle production . The problem is that the country is not yet free from the PMK diseases.
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