THE federal government has been accused of putting the health of Australians at risk by allowing beef imports from countries affected by mad cow disease.
Opposition agriculture spokesman John Cobb says new rules, which apply from March 1, are of severe concern.
The changes could put public health at risk.
"Mad cow disease is not something I would want to suffer, and I would not want anyone in Australia to suffer," he told reporters in Canberra today.
"That's why we have protocols."
Mr Cobb says new import protocols do not impose the same accountability and transparency that govern Australian cattle production.
"Why would you knock the protocols from under the Australian producers and not require the same protocols from your competitors."
