Live cattle imports from Australia dip
VOV.VN - Vietnam imported 129,471 head of cattle from Australia in the first half of this year, down 35% against the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
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The decline is attributed to better supplies on the domestic market not because of Vietnam slaughterhouses’ violation of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).
The Australian Embassy said cattle exports to Vietnam depended on many factors like domestic demands, export prices and exchange rates.
Regarding Australian temporary ban on cattle exports to Vietnam after the animal welfare group Animals Australia revealed footage that showed cow being repeatedly hit by a sledgehammer, Tong Xuan Chinh, deputy head of the Animal Husbandry Department, said the country temporarily stopped exporting cattle to Vietnam to conduct investigations. If real proofs are found, a fine will be imposed. Up to now, there has been no answer from the Australian Department of Agriculture.
Mr Chinh said temporary stop exporting cattle to Vietnam will affect domestic livestock businesses, but not immediately. It will take at least six months before the decision can affect prices on the domestic market.
Amy Guihot, Counsellor (Agriculture) - Australian Embassy in Hanoi, said the ban will come into effect until the investigations complete. It is imposed only on violating slaughtering facilities while those meeting ESCAS still receive cattle from Australia.
