BEEF imported to Australia from countries where there has been an outbreak of mad cow disease will not be traced back to individual farms, a Senate inquiry has been told.
Yet beef farms in Australia are subject to full traceability through the National Livestock Identification System.
The double standard drew the ire of coalition senators during a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra today.
"How on earth ... can we be sure about the beef that's coming from that (overseas) property?" Nationals senator Fiona Nash asked the chief veterinary officer from the government's Biosecurity Service Group.
Asked whether there would be individual assessments of traceability, Dr Andy Carroll replied: "No."
Traceability will be determined on a country-to-country basis, and administered through Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Head of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Conall O'Connal said "robust" measures would be in place from an animal and human health perspectives.
That prompted Senator Nash to say: "What a load of rubbish".
Liberal senator Chris Back said the changes placed high-level importance on the competence of (FANZ) officers in the countries of origin.
