The Federal Government has announced $256,000 in funding to enhance the knowledge of independent auditors who assess the treatment and handling of Australian livestock overseas.

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said managing the welfare of Australian livestock overseas continued to be a key issue for this government, and the training is designed to improve animal welfare outcomes whilst streamlining the paperwork.

“We are showing it is possible to improve outcomes while growing the trade and taking red tape out of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS),” Minister Joyce said.

“Last month I announced improvements to the auditor checklists that reduced unnecessary duplication and cut down on the time needed to complete audits.

“Reducing the length and complexity of the forms that auditors use and improving the education they receive about animal handling and slaughter processes ensures international animal welfare standards are met while cutting audit costs. We’re after good outcomes not piles of files.

“It is more advantageous to exporters, importers, and importantly the livestock, that auditors know how animal behaviour changes in response to different circumstances and what ESCAS requirements set out to achieve.”

To enhance the skills of independent auditors, the Coalition Government has provided Meat and Livestock Australia with $256,000 funding to deliver the training programme in South-East Asia and the Middle East.

Funding for the project comes from the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and was included in the 2014-15 Budget.

“It’s important we keep a focus on generating better returns at the farmgate – and this is one way we can simplify the process for importers and exporters to drive improved farm profitability and productivity,” Minister Joyce said.

“The Coalition Government will always support the Australian farming families and communities that rely on a strong livestock export sector.

“In 2013-14 livestock exports were worth $1.2 billion to the Australian economy and underpinned some 10,000 jobs in rural and regional areas. This government wants to see that figure grow and is committed to decreasing red tape to help that happen, while improving market access and maintaining high animal welfare standards.”

Industry welcomes the funding from the Australian Government to continue our investment in the professional development of auditors involved in verifying supply chain compliance with ESCAS.  We value the ongoing support of the Australian Government and Minister Joyce who recognise the important economic role of the industry and our efforts to improve our animal welfare performance in market.

The work undertaken by third party independent auditors in feedlots and abattoirs is a central pillar of welfare assurance and valued as critical to the effective implementation of ESCAS along the supply chain. As we seek continual improvement along our supply chains to improve welfare, investing in auditors skills, knowledge and capabilities is a must, particularly as auditing in the ESCASanimal welfare space is still relatively new.

Providing courses and training of this nature also assists auditors meet normal requirements to undertake continuing professional development.

The funding will be used to deliver specialised training to auditors working across all of Australia’s live export markets at a regional level (Indonesia, South East Asia and the Middle East). This project builds on early work to develop a comprehensive training package for ESCAS auditors and the delivery pilot training courses.  Information collected from the early work will be used to inform this next stage of work.

Funding furthers industry investment in welfare

The Australian Livestock Exporters Council said the industry welcomed the funding from the Australian Government to continue its investment in the professional development of auditors involved in verifying supply chain compliance with ESCAS.

“We value the ongoing support of the Australian Government and Minister Joyce who recognise the important economic role of the industry and our efforts to improve our animal welfare performance in market,” ALEC CEO Alison Penfold said.

“The work undertaken by third party independent auditors in feedlots and abattoirs is a central pillar of welfare assurance and valued as critical to the effective implementation of ESCAS along the supply chain. As we seek continual improvement along our supply chains to improve welfare, investing in auditors skills, knowledge and capabilities is a must, particularly as auditing in the ESCASanimal welfare space is still relatively new.

“Providing courses and training of this nature also assists auditors meet normal requirements to undertake continuing professional development.

“The funding will be used to deliver specialised training to auditors working across all of Australia’s live export markets at a regional level (Indonesia, South East Asia and the Middle East). This project builds on early work to develop a comprehensive training package for ESCAS auditors and the delivery pilot training courses.  Information collected from the early work will be used to inform this next stage of work.”

Source: Federal Minister for Agriculture, Australian Livestock Exporters Council