The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said it had launched an investigation following a complaint made by welfare group Animals Australia, which claimed that Australian sheep were being sold and brutally slaughtered at a livestock market in Kuwait, which was outside an approved supply chain.
The investigators concluded there had been a breach of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS), and that there was also evidence of international animal welfare standard breaches.
DAFF said that it had directed the three exporters involved – Emmanuel Exports Pty Ltd, International Livestock Export Pty Ltd and EMS Rural Exports Pty Ltd – to take action to strengthen control and traceability in their Kuwait supply chains.