The RSPCA announced its support on the proposed new regulatory protections for live sheep exports to the Middle East during September and October, but is yet concerned at the possibility that live sheep exports might yet be resumed during this highest-risk period.
Specifically, the Federal Department of Agriculture’s proposed regulatory options, include two options that represent the science and evidence, while also restrict the live sheep exports during the month of September.
In light of the above, RSPCA Australia Senior Policy Officer Dr Jed Goodfellow addressed that historically, September is one of the hottest and most dangerous months of the year for sheep being exported into the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
He continued that it was kind of alarming that there’s still the option of exports during September and that there are no restrictions in the high-risk month of October.
So we’re relieved to see the Department has finally accepted the independent evidence, and appears to be acting to properly regulate live exporters – as the community expects it should, and the law requires it must. However, October remains a very high risk period as well, with temperatures routinely exceeding the animals’ heat stress thresholds.
He also added that in the possibility that exports continue during this high-risk period, it will result to thousands of winter-acclimatised Australian sheep to prolonged periods of heat stress and suffering in sweltering Middle Eastern conditions.
The incapability to highlight the dangers of October-exports, reflects the advice of the Australian Veterinary Association, which has stated in multiple submissions to Government over the past year that sheep will suffer heat stress and die during export to the Middle East for the entire hottest period from May to October.
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In light of the heat and stress that result to sheep dying, the RSPCA has long called for live sheep exports to be halted for all six months of this highest-risk Middle Eastern summer period as the only way to protect Australian sheep from the very worst live export conditions.
Meanwhile, the RSCPA has already launched its Draft report on live sheep Heat Stress Risk Assessment released, presenting evidence the effects heat has on live export. Although the Committee expected that the Department would launch the official and final report on May, nothing has been released yet.
The RSPCA calls upon the Department to release the final Heat Stress Risk Assessment report before the close of the public consultation period, to allow stakeholders and the public to properly assess what the independent advice says these options will mean for Australian animals.
