Australian Meat Industry Council wants China to talk with exporters such as Naracoorte’s Teys Australia abattoir to lift bans

A ban on meat from a Naracoorte abattoir amid a Covid controversy has Aussie meat processors reeling after it became the 10th facility shut-out of the giant market.

The peak industry body for Australian meat processors is demanding China come to the table and explain why it is refusing Australian beef from exporters including a Naracoorte abattoir.

Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said it was critical China re-engaged.

“Our difficulty continues to be that we have a breakdown in dialogue,” he said.

“Where China raises a concern, industry and government provide a response, however due to no dialogue we have no idea what their view on our response is until either an establishment is temporarily suspended, or it is free to continue to provide product to China.”

China stopped accepting imports of meat products from Teys at Naracoorte from January 29, the 10th Australian abattoir to suffer that fate since 2019, following a Covid outbreak among workers.

Lachie Hurst of Lake Hawdon with some of the steers that were ready to go to Teys Australia but which have now been put on hold. Picture: Jacqui Bateman

That is despite Food Standards Australia and New Zealand points to World Health Organisation advice that there is currently no evidence that people can catch Covid-19 from food or food packaging.

None of the bans have been lifted since they were first imposed.

Mr Hutchinson said China had a right as an importing nation to implement trade sanctions, but they were being imposed over a whole range of issues – not just Covid – including labelling and “residues” on product.

He said while federal and state governments were “doing what they can to encourage dialogue from China with Australia”, trade was being “looked upon in isolation to other issues, rather than collateral damage in a weakened relationship”.

Farmer Lachie Hurst, 19 of Lake Hawdon near Robe, said his family had about 50 head of cattle ready to go to the abattoir but they could not be processed because of the backlog.

Mr Hurst said his family was “annoyed” and worried that Covid issues at Teys had “scared off a lot of people, and that could make it a whole lot harder to sell cattle into the export markets – it could effect the prices”.

SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

State opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said it was “very disappointing to see politics disrupting this vital local industry”.

“I really feel for the local workers and local farmers caught up in this mess,” he said.

“The state and federal governments must ensure all steps are taken to limit the impacts on local workers and the local economy.”

State Trade Minister Stephen Patterson said South Australia was supporting exporters through a strong network of trade offices and export programs.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the meat industry in working through these current challenges,” he said.

Federal Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan said the Australian Government was working with Teys to respond to the suspension notice.

“We have spoken with the Chinese authorities and sought to address any concerns they might have,” he said. “We will continue to seek the lifting of the suspension as soon as possible.