Israel Bans Live Cattle Imports From Australia

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Media Release

 

Australian Cattle die from Heat in Israel too –

 

ban imposed by Israel

 

Hot on the heals of the deaths of 880 cattle on the maiden voyage of the M.V.

Becrux, Israel’s top government Veterinarian (Dr Oded Nir) has today ordered a

halt to the live import of cattle to Israel from Australia.

 

The Israeli ban is imposed until a strategic plan exists to ensure the welfare

of cattle during unloading and transport in Jordan, then en route to Israel and

the Palestinian Authority.

 

Information received by Animals Australia’s contacts in Israel advise that Dr

Oded Nir took this unprecedented action due to the recent deaths of some 183

cattle from heat stroke and dehydration upon arrival in the Middle East.

 

" I now call on the Minister Truss to urgently extend* the live export ban to all

cattle and sheep to all of the Middle East " , said Animals Australia Executive, Ms Glenys Oogjes. Currently an Australian-initiated ban only applies

to southern-sourced cattle travelling to the Arabian Gulf this summer.

 

" Dr Oded Nir has put the responsibility for the recent deaths onto the

Australian export industry, as well as the hot, humid climate and transport

delays in Jordan and at the border crossing into Israel. This top veterinarian

is to be applauded for his (temporary) ban, but also on his blunt apportioning

of blame " , said Ms Oogjes.

 

" These recent deaths are just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the suffering

caused to tens of thousands of cattle and sheep as they sit in the baking sun in

trucks as the border guards follow complex bureaucratic procedures " , concluded

Ms Oogjes.

 

Background Notes:

 

*On 16 July the Minister banned the import of Bos Taurus (European breed)

cattle from southern Australia to the Arabian Gulf for this northern summer

(until 31/10), but allowed all cattle to continue to be sent to similar

latitudes in the Red Sea!

Israeli groups report that over 100,000 Australian cattle were imported into

Israel last year. Australian statistics are not so clear as the cattle travel

first to Jordan (port of Aqaba) and are then transported overland to Israel.

160,000 sheep went to Israel in 2001.

Dr Oded Nir has indicated that the death of 2.3% of 7971 cattle recently in

Israel was due to heat stroke and dehydration caused cumulatively by: conditions

on the ship from Australia, the extreme heat aboard the ship and during the

unloading, lack of water, a long delay on the Jordanian trucks, delay at the

Israeli border passage, security constraints that limit the transport to the

night hours, a lack of trucks on the Israeli side, and the lengthy customs

procedures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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