The Australian Livestock Exporters Council has called for an urgent investigation by the Department of Agriculture into allegations that thousands of sheep are being sold outside approved supply chains in Jordon and Kuwait.
Animal rights group, Animals Australia alerted the Federal Department of agriculture to the severe breaches of live export regulations occurring in Jordan and Kuwait, where Australian sheep are allegedly being sold at roadside markets.
The group state that Australian sheep are facing brutal treatment and slaughter during the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice due to commence tomorrow.
“One of the primary motivators for the introduction of these regulations was to prevent the brutal treatment of Australian animals documented every year during this religious festival,” said Animals Australia Campaign Director Lyn White.
“Australians have been horrified by scenes of Australian sheep being shoved into car boots and brutally slaughtered and now this year, despite the existence of these regulations, thousands of sheep will again face this fate.”
Alison Penfold, chief executive of the Australian Livestock Council said that the council is ‘deeply concerned’ for the welfare of the animals.
"Our gravest concern at any time, but particularly during the religious Festival of Eid al Adha is that Australian livestock could exit controlled facilities where we cannot assure welfare,” Penfold told The Weekly Times Now.
"Should these allegations be proven then we expect nothing less than any failure to comply with the federal regulations (ESCAS) to be called out publicly and tough penalties applied to the exporter or exporters responsible for the supply chains at fault."
Penfold said that exporters have been putting in place a specially designed management program for this year’s festival period which is designed to provide extra control arrangements to ensure the welfare of Australian livestock.
"Additional exporter staff and Australian welfare consultants have been deployed to the Middle East and South East Asia and are on the ground now at facilities to ensure that Australian livestock are treated humanely while respecting the religious and cultural significance of this festival,” she said.
"Unfortunately, this is little consolation in the face of such serious allegations in two supply chains."