Australia to review livestock exports

The Australian government will review its standards for the export of livestock as well as the role and function of the Livestock Export Standards Advisory Group.

A separate review looking at how the inspection of sheep for export from the port of Fremantle is carried out, will also take place.

Deputy secretary of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Phillip Glyde said the reviews were in line with the government’s response to the recommendations made in a previous review of the livestock export trade.

Glyde said: “The Australian government is committed to the live export industry and the trade has improved substantially since the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System was introduced a year ago.”

According to Glyde, the reforms the government last introduced were aimed at giving the industry a “strong, secure, long-term future” as well as a mechanism to support thousands of regional jobs. The Australian government said it will continue to work with the industry on reforms.

“The government has established the Livestock Export Reform Programme Implementation Board, which is responsible for delivering the recommendations of the Farmer report and will oversee both of these review processes,” he said.