The Egyptian government has said the Australian government has not officially informed them of any changes to the import of live animals, even as a damning report revealed widespread cruelty in the two government abattoirs, which Animals Australia said has led to a stoppage in the exporting of live animals to the North African country. Salah Abdel Moemen, Egyptian minister of agriculture, stated that Egypt is compliant with domestic and international standards in animal treatment, pointing out that Islamic Sharia emphasizes animal welfare. Moemen added that if live cattle exports are suspended, Egypt should discuss the matter with the Australian government find resolution. But in an apparent victory, Animals Australia announced this week that the Australian government would end live export of animals to Egypt over “cruelty" in what animal rights activists say is a step in the right direction to end the practice that has seen thousands of animals die en route to destinations across the Islamic world. The move comes after the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council said new video footage, released by Animals Australia was “horrific". Animals Australia said it had been filmed inside the two abattoirs approved to process Australian cattle. Exports to Egypt were halted in 2006 for four years over similar concerns, thanks in large part to campaigns from the Australian group and PETA Asia-Pacific. And in 2011, livestock exports to Indonesia were suspended after evidence of cruelty emerged there. “This is a positive step toward ending this gruesome and horrific practice and we all hope it will be the beginning of a new world where animals are not forced onto ships in tight quarters just to be slaughtered in another country," animal rights campaigner Mona told Bikyanews.com. “We are so angry that it has taken this long and a video to prove that this is wrong," she added. Egypt is not the only country that has faced controversy over live export. Australian sheep are still being sold and brutally slaughtered at a notorious livestock market in Kuwait – in breach of live export regulations – despite Animals Australia notifying the Federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) five months ago. A second formal complaint was lodged with the Department last week. “We were shocked to see that the number of merchants selling Australian sheep at this cruel market has only increased. The exporter continues to blatantly disregard their legal obligation to ensure sheep are kept within approved supply chains," said Animals Australia Campaign Director Lyn White. At least 11 separate merchants were found to be selling Australian sheep at Al Rai last month. Many were being kept in outdoor pens with no access to shade, food or water. Other larger groups were confined indoors, in complete darkness, to restrict the ability to photograph them. Many of the merchants at the market offered slaughter onsite as an 'after sales' service. “The only notable change since the previous complaint in 2012 is that Australian sheep are now having their ear tags ripped out in what we can only assume is a deliberate attempt to rort the system. What merchants have failed to take into account is that Australian merinos are unique and easily distinguishable from other sheep in the region." Animals Australia has conducted a number of investigations at the notoriously cruel Al Rai livestock market in Kuwait city, each time documenting the brutal handling, transport and slaughter of Australian sheep. “If there was one market that exporters should have been monitoring in the Middle East, it is Al Rai. The fact they have failed to do so, even after breaches were identified, shows how little they care and how prepared they are to flout the rules. “This ongoing situation demands the strongest possible sanctions from DAFF. It is time to let exporters know that if protecting animals from cruelty is not enough to motivate compliance, then failing to do so will lead to severe repercussions. “Preventing Australian sheep from being sold in such circumstances was a cornerstone of why ESCAS was implemented. If exporters are not prepared to comply with the new regulations, they should have their export license removed." Animals Australia says it is unacceptable that investigations into ESCAS breaches are taking so long. “During the five months since we first alerted DAFF to breaches in Kuwait, thousands of Australian sheep have continued to be sold and slaughtered in breach of regulations. If AQIS needs additional resources to allow them to investigate expediently – then they should be urgently provided with them." BN
