THE sheepmeat industry has unveiled a new plan to improve welfare of Australian sheep exported to the Middle East.
The plan includes a groundbreaking ban on individual sheep being taken away for private slaughter.Instead, sheep will have to be slaughtered onsite or at nearby facilities which comply with global animal welfare standards.
Animal welfare groups have persistently criticised the poor treatment of Australian sheep sold in the Middle East.
Sheepmeat Council of Australia president Kate Joseph said the new strategy aimed to ensure the welfare of Australian sheep in major Middle Eastern markets.
"Industry has been proactively working in Australia's major sheep export markets - Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait - to address potential welfare issues, including during this year's Eid al Adha celebration," she said.
She said their plan came ahead of the implementation of a new regulatory framework in 2012 for Australian livestock exports.
The Federal Government responded to the Farmer Review of the live animal export trade last week.
Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chairman Peter Kane said the agreement to end private sales in these markets was "groundbreaking" and represented a significant cultural shift.
"It must be remembered that we are dealing with complex cultural and religious tradition and that Australia has no jurisdiction in our overseas markets," he said in a statement.
The Farmer Review of the livestock export industry, conducted by former diplomat Bill Farmer and released last week, recommended the implementation of new guidelines assuring that Australian animals are only exported to audited supply chains that meet global animal welfare standards.
In 2010-11, 2.9 million sheep worth $343.5 million were exported to Middle Eastern markets.
To ensure no halt in this valuable trade, livestock exporters are moving to implement plans to improve animal welfare in all Middle East markets.
