COALITION senators have clashed with representatives of a key cattle group over new rules covering the importation of beef to Australia.
Imports from countries which have experienced bovine spongiform encephalopathy - better known as mad-cow disease - will be allowed from March 1, sparking anger from some in the local cattle industry.
But the Red Meat Advisory Council is backing the new rules, subject to further consultations with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
The Cattle Council of Australia supports the move but acknowledged to a Senate inquiry hearing today that it still had some concerns about the protocols.
That led Nationals senator Fiona Nash to ask cattle council president Greg Brown what would happen if FSANZ ignored his organisation's input.
"Obviously, we'll do what we did before, raise the issue publicly," Mr Brown told the Senate's rural and regional affairs committee in Canberra.
When pressed further by Senator Nash, Mr Brown admitted that the council had no jurisdiction to insist on changes.
Mr Brown would not be drawn on whether there was a need for a risk analysis on a possible danger the imports might have on animal health.
The Red Meat Advisory Council conceded last week new science proved bovine spongiform encephalopathy was no longer a threat to human or animal health.
The council said it had been given assurances that it would be consulted over the new rules, especially traceability and in-country inspections.
