Australia’s Department of Agriculture has cancelled the livestock export licence of a second exporter, EMS Rural Exports Pty Ltd., as part of the government’s efforts to protect interests of the industry and high standards on animal welfare.
Under the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997, the Secretary of the department has the power to cancel an export licence in cases where a licence holder is an associate of a person or entity which has had their livestock export licence suspended or cancelled.
In line with the Act, EMS Rural Exports Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd and is an associate of Emanuel, a company that was involved on a notorious incident of thousands of sheep dying from heat shock onboard one of its ships earlier this year.
Emanuel Exports Pty Ltd had its export licence cancelled by the department on 21 August 2018.
As the department noted, when the Emanuel licence was cancelled, it is the responsibility of each exporter to ensure it meets the clear requirements under the legislation that governs the export of livestock. This includes providing complete and accurate information to the regulator as to how regulatory standards and licence conditions will be met and have been met.
The department is now actively considering applications from other potential exporters to the Middle East against the strict requirements of the legislation.
In addition, Australia is considering some further changes to conditions that will apply to the export of sheep to the Middle East once the northern hemisphere summer has ended.
