Live export industry leaders have moved to clarify reports that Indonesia may be considering a ban on pre-slaughter stunning in abattoirs.

The rollout of pre-slaughter stunning has been an integral part of Australian efforts to improve welfare standards in overseas abattoirs.

While not compulsory under the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, more than 90 percent of ESCAS-approved abattoirs in Indonesia have adopted the practice. Abattoir owners say stunning has delivered not only better welfare outcomes but has led to faster, more efficient processing which is better for their bottom line.

Pre-slaughter stunning is deemed as Halal or acceptable practice under Islamic law in Indonesia, but must be performed in a way that does not kill or cause brain damage to the animal prior to slaughter.

The practice has met some resistance among muftis at local level in the country, who have expressed concern that stunning has been performed in an ‘imperfect’ manner in some abattoirs.

The issue generated headlines in April when a provincial branch of the Indonesian Muslim Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia or MUI) issued fatwas against stunning in five local abattoirs as a result of its concerns.

At the time Indonesia’s overarching national MUI council announced that it was conducting an audit of stunning practices, but stated that stunning was an acceptable practice according to Halal law.

The issue received more attention this week when mainstream media reports picked up on statements made about resistance to stunning in Indonesia in a report tabled in Queensland Parliament by Queensland agriculture minister John McVeigh on Tuesday.

The nine-page report summarised individual discussions the minister held with various Indonesian ministers and Australian diplomats and industry representatives during his recent visit to the country with NT primary industries minister Willem Westra Van Holthe.

Mr McVeigh’s report said Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty had told the ministers there had been a “marked shift against stunning by Indonesians”, and that local fatwas had been issued decreeing that stunning should not be allowed.

The report also quoted comments from Indonesian agriculture minister Suswono, a leading advocate of Indonesia’s self-sufficiency policy, that stunning was something the Australian public wanted, not Indonesia.

According to the document, Mr Suswono said the Indonesian Muslim Council’s view was that stunning was acceptable to render an animal unconscious, but not if the brain was not damaged during the procedure.

The comments triggered reports in News Limited outlets yesterday describing the issuing of fatwas against stunning by Indonesia as a major blow for the live cattle export trade.

However, the chief executive of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Alison Penfold, said it was important to note that fatwas had only been issued against stunning by a local MUI authority in five abattoirs in a single province, and the practice continued to be supported at national level by the overarching MUI council.

“We were advised in late April that the Banten provincial office of Indonesia’s top clerical body the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) had placed a fatwa in five abattoirs, questioning the use of stunning in those facilities, following an audit of stunning practices,” Ms Penfold said.

“It is important to note that the MUI is supportive of stunning and have guidelines outlining the conditions to which stunning is acceptable as a halal practice.” 

She said Australian and Indonesian industry groups had been working with the MUI to provide training and information on stunning practices.

“Australian industry is respectful of importing country requirements, particularly religious requirements and we will continue to work with the appropriate Indonesian authorities to improve our understanding of their concerns and provide additional training and resources that improve knowledge and skills.

“The industry has worked tirelessly to implement infrastructure upgrades and provide training and support to deliver Indonesian halal requirements and international animal welfare standards.”

During 2012, Australian work to improve in welfare standards in Indonesia through the industry’s Livestock Export Program delivered training in international standard animal welfare practices to over 1700 Indonesians.

This included 58 stunning specific training sessions 150 animal welfare and handling courses.

The rollout of training seminars and education materials would continue to be central component of industry’s effort to address issues such as those raised by the Banten Province MUI, she said.

Queensland minister for agriculture John McVeigh said he was very confident the stunning issue could be overcome through education and the adoption of modified stunning equipment.
“During my recent visit (to Indonesia), I inspected cattle being processed at the PT Elders abattoir at Bogor, that were stunned using a rounded stunner that rendered the animals unconscious, but did not damage the brain,” he said.

“Despite the setbacks, I’m confident of re-building trade relations and expanding our beef exports, both live cattle and boxed beef.

“I was very encouraged by the meetings I had with senior government officials and industry leaders.

“Indonesia is a country of more than 240 million with a middle class approaching 50 million with a growing appetite for beef, and Queensland is well-placed to supply that demand.”