Australia's live sheep export industry has reached an agreement with Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait to prevent the slaughter of export animals at private residences. The announcement comes before Eid al Adha from the Sheepmeat Council of Australia. The Islamic religious festival, Eid al Adha requires Muslims to sacrifice animals as an act of obedience to God (Allah). Before the festival, it is common among many Middle Eastern households to buy sheep from holding feed lots. Reuters news agency reports, once bought the animals are often placed in the boot of a car and taken home. Animal welfare agencies say that the transporting of the animals in such a way is cruel. “Key to assuring the welfare of Australian sheep is the implementation by importers and importing governments of a ‘no private sales' policy to unknown slaughter points in these markets,” said Sheepmeat Council chairman, Kate Joseph. The agreement means that individual buyers will not be able to take sheep home for slaughtering. It will be mandatory for individual buyers to use slaughter facilities that comply with global animal welfare standards. “Industry has been proactively working in Australia's major sheep export markets – Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait – to address potential welfare issues, including during this year's Eid al Adha celebration,” said Joseph. Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) chairman, Peter Kane said the agreement was ‘groundbreaking' and symbolized a significant cultural shift. “It must be remembered that we are dealing with complex cultural and religious tradition and that Australia has no jurisdiction in our overseas markets,” said Kane. This agreement in improving animal welfare standards within the Middle East was catalyzed by events that took place earlier this year in Indonesia. Footage showed cattle being beaten, whipped and maimed prior to slaughter in some Indonesian abattoirs. The Sheepmeat Council's Chief Executive, Ron Cullen, said the agreement was being implemented ahead of plans to ensure Australian animals are only exported to audited supply chains which meet global animal welfare standards by 2012. “The plan is very much in line with recommendations by the government (announced last week) but we're bringing the time-line forward ahead of Eid al Adha,” said Cullen. Cullen said plans also include having observers on the ground, advertising and the continuation of education programs. Australia is the world's largest exporter of live animals. From 2010 to 2011 Australia shipped 2.9 million sheep valued at $358.9 million to Middle Eastern markets. BM
