Egypt's imports of the Australian live stocks have been already suspended since August 2012 over passing some amendments on live import and export measures besides the government's refusal to import fattened cattle, the country's Agriculture minister said on Sunday. The Egyptian Agriculture and land Reclamation Minister Salah Abdul Momin noted that his country has not imported the live stocks from Australia since August 2012. In a phone interview with a local channel program Al-Hayat Al-Youm aired Sunday evening, Abdul Momin stated that the ministry strictly controls and oversee the performance of the slaughterhouses imposing stringent rules neither to harm animals nor slaughter the sick. Australian livestock exporters said on Saturday they were suspending live cattle exports to Egypt after a graphic video purportedly showed animal cruelty in Egyptian slaughterhouses and prompted Canberra to launched an investigation. Agriculture officials said they had taken the matter up with Cairo, as Australian Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he was "dismayed" that the footage provided by animal rights group Animals Australia had not been made available sooner. Animals Australia, which is campaigning for an end to the live export trade, said the footage was shot over recent months at two abattoirs approved under a joint agreement which allowed the resumption of live animal exports to Egypt in 2010.
