SYDNEY: Australia on Sunday announced a temporary ban on the export of live cattle to Egypt while claims of mistreatment in abattoirs there are investigated. The suspension came ahead of the broadcast later Sunday by commercial television of footage said to show cattle suffering serious mistreatment. Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said he had suspended the live shipping of cattle to Egypt until an investigation by Egyptian authorities was completed. Egypt s chief veterinary officer has confirmed the practices shown in the story were illegal and has started an investigation, McGauran said. I have personally brought the content of the footage to the attention of the Egyptian Minister for Agriculture and requested that he provide a comprehensive response to the alleged mistreatment of Australian cattle, McGauran said in a statement. As well, my department s Middle East-based veterinarian has immediately traveled to Egypt to investigate the matter first-hand. McGauran said he would decide on future arrangements for the export of cattle to Egypt after assessing information from Egyptian and Australian authorities and the cattle industry. While it had not been confirmed whether the cattle seen in the Nine Network s 60 Minutes report were from Australia, the practices shown were unacceptable, he said. No-one involved in Australia s live export industries would condone the actions depicted in the footage. Indeed, the actions shown are illegal under both Australian and Egyptian law. No details were given of the mistreatment of the animals. AFP
Australia suspends cattle exports to Egypt over mistreatment charges
