New Zealand, Canada and Brazil are ready to supply beef and cattle to Indonesia following Australia`s suspension of live cattle exports to the country over alleged abusive treatment of livestock.Representatives of the three countries expressed the readiness during a meeting with Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Body at the Agriculture Ministry Banun Harpini here on Wednesday.
Banun said actually the ministry invited six countries, namely New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and Ireland, to attend the meeting. "However, only three countries attended the meeting and they expressed readiness to supply cattle to Indonesia."
He said Brazil which had so far exported live cattle to India, China, Singapore, Russia and even Australia was ready to export beef to Indonesia in any quantities.
However, Indonesia could not import live cattle from Brazil because Law No. 18 of 2009 on husbandry and animal health stipulated that Indonesia could only import cattle from foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free countries.
"Admittedly, FMD is still found in Brazil. But like Indonesia, Brazil is a large country. Brazil has FMD-free zones and FMD-free zones where vaccination is still given or is not given," he said.
Therefore, there had been an idea of amending the law, he said.
He said New Zealand offered to export beef because the country did not export live cattle according to its policy.
Meanwhile, Canada offered to export young cattle to Indonesia to increase the country`s cattle population, he said.
The Australian government decided last Wednesday to suspend all cattle exports to Indonesia following an outcry over alleged abusive treatment of livestock in the country.
Australia said the suspension would remain until Indonesia establishes new regulations to protect livestock from mistreatment.
Australia exports about 500,000 cattle a year to Indonesia, accounting for 60 per cent of its livestock trade.(*)
Editor: Heru
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