RSPCA Australia is urging the Department of Agriculture to make an example of rogue live export operators and implement real restrictions to protect Australian animals.
More than ten thousand Australian sheep exported by Livestock Shipping Services (LSS) are believed to have suffered severe cruelty after being illegally on-sold outside of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) in Jordan during the recent Festival of Sacrifice.
“ESCAS was implemented to prevent the enormous suffering associated with roadside ritual slaughter and sheep bleeding to death in the street. The system is clearly not working in Jordan and no further shipments to the region should be allowed,” said Dr Bidda Jones, Chief Scientist, RSPCA Australia.
“As the regulatory body in charge of enforcing ESCAS, the Department of Agriculture has the power to implement the necessary restrictions to ensure such flagrant abuse does not happen – they need to use those powers now.
“It’s also time for the industry to put its own house in order. If they want to be both ‘professional and legitimate’ as they claim in their vision they need to take a stand against those within the trade who are clearly flouting the rules,” said Dr Jones.
This cruelty highlights yet again the inherent risks of live export and the need for investments to be made to allow Australia to transition to a meat-only trade.
Media contact: Elise Meakin, 0419 748 907, [email protected]
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