Live Export

Progress being made in Indonesian supply chains: MLA

James Nason, 29/07/2011

Australian animal welfare experts have visited 54 abattoirs in Indonesia since early June and upgraded facilities in 20, according to a briefing issued to stakeholders by Meat & Livestock Australia.

Three weeks after the Federal Government lifted its suspension on Australian live cattle exports to Indonesia, work continues with exporters, importers, lot feeders and abattoirs to bring supply chains in the market up to required animal welfare standards.

Teams of Australian animal welfare experts have been working to assess abattoir and feedlot compliance with OIE standards, conduct animal handling training workshops and overseeing infrastructure and traceability upgrades. 

Each supply chain must pass independent third-party audits before they can handle Australian cattle under new Federal Government orders.

The work of Australian animal welfare monitors is about to intensify as processing throughputs peak during the annual Ramadan religious festival. Ramadan starts this Sunday, August 1, triggering a month long period of daily fasting followed by celebratory feasts.

The MLA briefing said Australian animal welfare monitors will be based in six regional cities during the Ramadan festival period and will visit between one and three “priority one and two” abattoirs every night.

They will be accompanied on every visit by animal welfare officers from APFINDO (Indonesian Meat Importers Association), representing the feedlots that supply cattle to each abattoir.

“This five week program is designed to help in ensuring Australian cattle processed in key facilities are handled appropriately, and to advise on suitable infrastructure design and modifications to meet OIE guidelines under the DAFF performance checklist,” the report said.

The document said there had been a strong focus in recent weeks on preparing documentation for the controlled supply chains and preparation for audits.

Two consultants have been in Indonesia over the past two weeks to provide advice to exporters and lot feeders on required procedures and systems for the development of the controlled supply chains.

The consultants have also assisted nine importer supply chains with the development of standard operating procedures (SOP), and have developed a set of generic procedure documents that can be utilised by all importers.

Support for commercial operators expanding stunning will be provided over coming weeks with the expansion of the program into additional regions.
 

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