Asia-Pacific

Indonesia, Australia to discuss live cattle export

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-20 14:03

JAKARTA - Indonesian Agriculture Minister Suswono and his Australian counterpart Joe Ludwig is to hold talks on Monday, as the pressure to resume live cattle exports to Indonesia has mounted in Australia, Indonesian official said.

The Australian government banned live cattle exports to Indonesia earlier this month following the exposure of cattle cruelty at several slaughter houses in Indonesia.

To clarify the issue, both countries decided to jointly verify the way of slaughtering in the abattoirs.

Experts from Indonesia and Australia are carrying out the task now.

Australian Agriculture Company (AACo), Australia's largest cattle producer, on June 12 urged the federal government to move quickly in dealing with suspension of the live cattle exports to Indonesia, which is its biggest market.

AACo operates 18 cattle stations across Australia, and its chief executive David Farley said that he was appalled by the cruelty, but the government now needs to move quickly on a timetable to resume trade with the abattoirs that have the right standards.

AACo predicted it will lose about $10.7 million from its 2011 profits, because of the government's decision to suspend live cattle exports to Indonesia for up to six months.

Indonesia accounts for about 60 percent of the Australia's cattle market.

The Indonesian government mulls seeking alternative sources of its live cattle import.