Australian report on lumpy skin disease delivered to Indonesia

Australia has delivered a 50-page dossier about our lumpy skin disease status to Indonesia, as the wait for live exports to resume goes on.

A 50-page report explaining Australia’s freedom from lumpy skin disease has been delivered to the Indonesian government, as a push to win back the live export trade continues.

The report, titled “Australia’s freedom from lumpy skin disease”, was prepared by the biosecurity animal division of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and gives extensive detail on the measures Australia has taken to prevent LSD here.

It is hoped the document, combined with test results of cattle in Australian feed yards, will see the live export trade resume fully after four feed yards were suspended due to fears of LSD.

Those test results, which were taken more than two weeks ago, are expected to be released “very soon” according to an industry insider.

But there is no guarantee negative test results, along with the technical report, will see trade resume immediately.

Cow with lumpy skin disease.

The introduction to the dossier reiterates Australia’s position that it does not have LSD.

“The purpose of this dossier is to provide information on Australia’s animal health status, biosecurity and surveillance systems and domestic and wild bovine populations to demonstrate that Australia:

IS free of LSD infection

CAN detect an LSD outbreak promptly

WOULD respond effectively in the event of an LSD outbreak including with timely notification to trading partners,” the report said.

The report provides evidence “to demonstrate the robust biosecurity and surveillance systems, competent veterinary and laboratory services, adequate resourcing and established preparedness and response arrangements for emergency animal diseases” in Australia.

The Weekly Times understands the dossier was delivered to the Indonesian authorities earlier this week.

A DAFF spokesman said the report had also been provided to several trading partners for their information, including Indonesia, and “is separate (but complementary) to the comprehensive investigation report that will be delivered to Indonesia at the completion of LSD testing of Australian cattle”.

Meanwhile a joint statement released today by Indonesian and Australian industry groups “reiterates the strong friendship and close working relationship” despite the LSD issue.

The statement, from the Indonesian Beef Cattle Industry Association (GUPUSPINDO) and the Australian Livestock Exporters Council said executives of the two organisations met in August and were planning another meeting with importers and exporters in Indonesia in September.

“Our two organisations interact with a strong spirit of openness and co-operation no matter what challenges we may each face,” GUPUSPINDO chair Pak Didiek Purwanto said.

“It is important we continue to understand each other’s circumstances so we can each work for the benefit of each other and support the thousands of jobs in Australia and Indonesia that are reliant on our industry, as we provide affordable quality beef to Indonesian families and communities.”

ALEC chairman David Galvin said it was “important that the two industries remained connected while the Indonesian and Australian governments considered how to address concerns about positive LSD tests in Australian cattle”.

“We encourage the continued discussions between our respective governments and ask them to work cooperatively together to resolve current concerns,” Mr Galvin said.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16

Australia has just 60 days to prove it does not have lumpy skin disease before further action is taken by Indonesia.

Reports by the Indonesian news agency Antara said Australia was given until September 12 to prove it had no LSD, but it would not stop imports during the 60-day period.

The deadline comes as Malaysia became the second country to suspend live exports from Australia over LSD fears.

ATLA Food and Agriculture is a consultancy company working in South-East Asia, and chief executive officer Dr Michael Patchling said the 60-day deadline had been publicised in Indonesia.

“Australia has been given 60 days to demonstrate to Indonesia that they are LSD free,” Dr Patchling said.

“And from industry insiders, they should be able to achieve this well before the end of that time period.

“Australia is still LSD free and is continuing to trade normally with all other products and nations.”

Dr Patchling said while the bans by Indonesia and now Malaysia seemed “paradoxical” – given both countries have a record of LSD – it was important to understand that all of the countries were dedicated to disease prevention for economic and internal political reasons.

“Preventing any entry or spread of any disease into the country is important to them and they are trying to control its impact, no matter the origin,” Dr Patchling said.

“Unfortunately for Australia, because all of our trade is official and over sea or air, it is easy to regulate and stop.

“These are not political moves against Australia, more likely to protect their own political position with farmers.”

Meanwhile there are fears more countries will suspend Australian live cattle exports after

Malaysia halted imports due to concerns of LSD.

Last week, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has announced Malaysia had “temporarily suspended” live cattle and buffalo exports, following Indonesia’s move to do likewise.

Malaysia is not a major importer of Australian cattle and in the past financial year, took 12,593 cattle and 914 buffalo to make it the nation’s sixth biggest customer, behind Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Israel and the Philippines.

But the country is the second to suspend live exports from Australia after Indonesian authorities reported they had found 13 cattle which had tested positive to LSD that had been sourced from Australia.

Malaysia, like Indonesia, does have a record of LSD in the country.

The nation’s chief veterinary officer Dr Mark Schipp reiterated that LSD had never been detected in Australia and the nation remained free of the disease.

He said he understood Malaysia’s decision to suspend imports was based on Indonesian advice they would not accept cattle from four specific export establishments.

Dr Schipp said the department had briefed industry and would “continue to work closely with stakeholders to provide the necessary assurances to our trading partners on our animal health status”.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said it was his understanding that Malaysia had “effectively followed Indonesia’s response in dealing with this issue”.

“We have been very active in assuring all of our trading partners that we don’t have lumpy skin disease in Australia,” Minister Watt said.