subject: The Australian livestock export industry – committed to animal welfare [print this page] Australian livestock exporters and producers are genuinely committed to animal health and welfare. Australian livestock producers are proud of the quality of the livestock they raise, and delivering these livestock in good condition to our export markets in partnership with livestock exporters underpins their livelihoods.
Healthy and humanely treated livestock are the number one priority of Australia's livestock export industry, and the industry leads by example, operating under the highest standards in the world.
The industry is one of the most highly regulated industries by the Australian Government, with the detailed requirements of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock ensuring that all animals are exported on high quality vessels where they have room to walk around, lie down and have constant access to fresh food, fresh water and fresh air. These strict standards also ensure that Australian stockmen and veterinarians accompany Australian livestock exports on their voyages overseas.
In partnership with the Australian Government, the livestock export industry also opens its wallet and provides substantial resources to ensure Australia's commitment to animal welfare is extended beyond our shores to overseas marketplaces. Australia's livestock export industry draws on the skills of a broad range of people to deliver improvements in animal welfare outcomes in the markets we export to, and Australia is the only nation in the world to:
Employ teams of animal welfare specialists in the countries that it exports livestock to;
Fund infrastructure and equipment upgrades in overseas markets; and
Actively train and educate importing countries on managing its livestock and the importance of animal welfare.
The resulting improvements in animal welfare benefit all livestock in the countries we export to across the Middle East and South East Asia, regardless of where they are imported from. Through Australia's investment, innovation and long term commitment to animal welfare we are lifting the standards for livestock export globally.
While Australian livestock exporters and producers are proud of the consistent and substantial improvements the industry has made to animal welfare outcomes in overseas export markets, they also acknowledge that reaching today's standards has been a process of constant improvement and that there is still more work to be done.
The livestock export industry has seen great improvements across the Middle East and South East Asia over the last five years, but the industry's investment will continue because there are still opportunities to improve.
That is why producers and exporters are continuing to invest money, through Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Livestock Exporters' Corporation (LiveCorp), into improving the trade. This includes continued investment into research and development; continual review and improvement of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock; continuation of the industry's in-market welfare programs and infrastructure upgrades, and communicating this important work to the Australian community.
In summary, Australian livestock exporters and producers are global leaders in animal health and welfare, consistently lifting standards at home and across Australia's livestock export markets. To see the difference we are making for yourself, watch this industry information video.
The Australian livestock export industry committed to animal welfare
