Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System improves live export industry

THE Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System has been commended for helping the live export industry.

Australian beef cattle

THE controversial exporter supply chain assurance system has been commended for helping the live export industry get back on its feet.

Speaking at the Livex Forum in Melbourne last week, Agriculture Department deputy secretary Phillip Glyde said ESCAS had helped regain community confidence in the live export industry.

Mr Glyde said 6.3 million animals have been exported to 18 countries since July 2011, with 805 “establishments” audited, with a 98 per cent compliance rate.

“It has been a huge step forward in animal welfare around the world,” he said.

However, RSPCA Australia chief executive Heather Neil said the statistic was too high to be realistic.

Mr Glyde said it was reporting the statistics it had available.

“In any compliance system there are things we don’t know and that aren’t reported,” he said.

Mr Glyde also gave his personal view on the Federal Government review of ESCAS, which is in it final rounds of consultation.

While he could not report on the findings, he said “it is very clear that the sub­missions we received indicate the industry is performing well”.

“ESCAS has definitely ­improved animal welfare outcomes,” he said.

However, Mr Glyde said there were a few challenges and there were reforms which would have to happen to ensure the industry would be sustainable.

He said ESCAS — which was rolled out in six weeks — was what allowed the industry to reopen in the live ­export trade after the “pause” in 2011

Mr Glyde said the challenges with ESCAS were the “huge cost” and high regulatory burden which dis­courages commercial partners.

“It (ESCAS) is completely foreign and confusing to our trading partners.”