A message from the Chairman - on the ground in Indonesia 16/06/11
On Tuesday, I stressed that MLA's priority is the urgent implementation of measures to assure the welfare of Australian cattle in Indonesia. Only this will give Government the confidence to reopen the livestock export trade.
With that in mind, I'd like to provide you with an update on the activities that Industry is currently undertaking on the ground in Indonesia.
The Industry-Government Working Group on Live Animal Exports - of which MLA is an integral part - is developing a stringent supply chain assurance program from the vessel to the feedlot and on to the point of processing, verified by the use of a traceability system.
MLA has a team of experts working with the Indonesian cattle importers to further improve standards at the 25 best facilities processing Australian cattle.
Increased stunning
There are now 11 Indonesian facilities using stunning equipment. Building on the five that were already in use, we have assisted another two facilities to install stunning equipment and an Indonesian importer has supplied another four facilities. A further three facilities have been identified to have stunning installed as a priority. Expert training has been delivered with the MLA/LiveCorp team providing additional technical support.
Improved infrastructure
As requested by Indonesia, a program to review abattoir infrastructure and design has commenced. This will develop alternative options based on a Temple Grandin standing slaughter design, which will allow for both stunning and processing in the standing position. Designs will consider local conditions, including the lack of electricity, and skill levels to allow it to be manually operated.
OIE compliance assurance program
An audit checklist for all sectors of the livestock import trade in Indonesia will be used to assess whether their operations comply with OIE standards. Individual feedlots and abattoirs will need to have management procedures in place for staff training, maintaining equipment, feed programs, management of cattle and slaughter procedures.
Traceability of cattle within Indonesia
A team is urgently developing a traceability system for cattle in Indonesia. This will enable importers to trace animals from the vessel into the feedlot, and then out of the feedlot and into the abattoir.
Training animal welfare officers
MLA will train 30 animal welfare officers during June. These animal welfare officers will be stationed in all facilities processing Australian cattle. The training will cover animal handling training, Halal slaughter practices, standard operating procedures, hygiene and stunning training.
Increased training for Indonesian abattoir workers
A team of eight Australian stock handling experts have conducted intensive training programs over the past two weeks.
The work that our staff are doing on the ground in Indonesia is absolutely critical to improving the welfare of Australian cattle processed in Indonesia. This, in turn, will give Government renewed confidence in the trade so they can promptly re-open it.
We also hope that increasing animal welfare standards in these key Indonesian facilities will give impetus to animal welfare initiatives across the Indonesian industry.
It will not be easy, but we are committed to the speedy resumption of the trade to Indonesia.
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