Peak veterinary body welcomes appointment of Independent Reviewer of Live Export Regulator

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), has welcomed the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, the Hon. David Littleproud MP’s announcement of the appointment of Mr. Phillip Moss AM to conduct the independent review of the Live Animal Export Regulator, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR).

AVA President, Dr. Paula Parker said that the Association has been calling for the government to fully invest in transparency and enforcement of appropriate animal health and welfare standards at every stage of the live export supply chain.

“We support Minister Littleproud’s announcement of the review of the department’s capability, powers and culture as a regulator of the trade.

“Industry has publicly committed to a number of voluntary reforms. However, it’s critical that the regulator embrace reform to improve accountability, transparency and ensure animal welfare in line with the expectations of the veterinary profession and the wider community,” Dr. Parker said.

The AVA would like to see DAWR equipped with sufficient resources and personnel with the leadership skills, understanding of the industry, and veterinary animal welfare and epidemiology expertise to investigate and enforce the regulations. The regulator must act on the daily and end of voyage reports provided by veterinarians appropriately and without delay.

The AVA would also like to see the regulator have greater oversight at voyage discharge to monitor and report on outcomes.

“As part of reform, it is essential that technology solutions, such as Blockchain technology, are leveraged to ensure that the changes that are made are fit for 2018 and beyond”

“There is no place in the industry for exporters who are not committed to upholding animal welfare as the primary guiding principle for the export of livestock. It is the responsibility of the regulator to remove them,” Dr. Parker said.

The AVA encourages the government to work collaboratively to ensure that the industry and the regulator fulfill their responsibilities and hold animal welfare as the primary consideration.

The AVA policy on live export states:

Ideally, Australian food animals should be slaughtered as close to the site of production as practicable to minimise transport and handling stress, and to ensure they are protected by appropriate and enforceable animal welfare and slaughter standards.

Where live export occurs, an Australian-registered shipboard veterinarian must accompany each shipment and this veterinarian must be independent and thus not employed by either the exporting company or the shipping company. Pregnancy testing of animals for export must be performed by an Australian-registered veterinarian.

Effective operational protocols must be in place at all times to safeguard the welfare of exported animals. These protocols must ensure humane animal transport, handling and slaughter practices in accordance with best practice; and include accreditation of abattoirs, training of employees and the implementation of an independent animal welfare auditing process.

Animals should not be subjected to prolonged land transport prior to exportation.

For further information and requests for interviews contact the AVA media office on 0439 628 898 or media@ava.com.au.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is the only national association representing veterinarians in Australia. Founded in 1921, the AVA today represents 9000 members working in all areas of animal science, health, and welfare.