Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry statement on allegations of…
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry received allegations from a third-party on the evening of Sunday 28 May 2023 of non-compliance with the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) for sheep in Oman.
The third-party alleges that live Australian sheep are available for sale and slaughter at multiple locations in Oman outside of approved ESCAS facilities.
The department provided the details of the allegations to relevant livestock exporters on 29 May 2023, seeking review of their in-country controls.
The department is taking these allegations seriously and will commence its investigation upon receipt of the evidence expected to be provided by the third-party in the coming days.
The department investigates all allegations of non-compliance with ESCAS requirements based on the evidence provided.
The department takes immediate regulatory action in response to non-compliance where it is clearly identified, while investigations are ongoing, to mitigate the risk of further non-compliance.
Exporters commit to having arrangements in their supply chain to ensure compliance with Australia’s ESCAS requirements. Where evidence demonstrates exporter supply chain arrangements have not met ESCAS requirements, the department will impose additional conditions. These can range from extra surveillance and reporting, removing facilities from supply chains right through to loss of an exporter’s licence.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that exported animals are treated as humanely as possible. Australia is the only country, out of over 100 livestock exporting nations, that requires specific animal welfare conditions for exported feeder and slaughter livestock once they arrive in the importing country.
ESCAS provides assurance that these animal welfare conditions are met and its introduction by the Australian Government was the most significant regulatory reform the live export industry has ever seen.
ESCAS – as a regulatory system – requires exporters to have arrangements with supply chain partners (i.e., importers, transport, feedlots, abattoirs) in importing countries to provide for the control, traceability and animal welfare of feeder and slaughter livestock from arrival through to point of slaughter. When incidents do occur, ESCAS provides a framework for the department to investigate and address non-compliances with exporters and to take regulatory action where appropriate.