Australia wants to ban the export of live sheep by sea from 1 May 2028. The country has allocated more than €65 million to implement these plans. The government believes that animals should be slaughtered in its country. This would be better for animal welfare and employment in Australia.
Live sheep exports by sea have actually declined sharply over the past 20 years. In the 2002-2003 season, this type of export achieved sales worth $415 million. That drops to about $77 million in the 2022-2023 season. Sheep meat exports have tripled in that period.
Criticism has increased in recent years about the export of live sheep by sea, especially to the Middle East. Partly due to high temperatures. In 2019, a ban was imposed on maritime transport in the summer months.
In January of this year, things went wrong for a different reason. Houthi rebels attacked ships trying to cross the Red Sea. Some ships carrying sheep broke down. One ship was called. Then the Israeli sheep's owner wanted to sail the ship around Africa. This was met with resistance. The animals have been on the boat for months, and this change will of course take another sixty days.
“Protect the sheep”
Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the government was taking these measures to “protect the welfare of sheep”. “Society expects Australia to have the best animal welfare practices in the world. I realize some people want to stop trading tomorrow, and others don't want to stop trading at all.
Of the 107 million Australian dollars (equivalent to more than 65 million euros), $64.6 million will be allocated to prepare sheep farmers and the chain for the new situation. These funds aim, among other things, to expand processing capacity and increase animal welfare. Furthermore, $2.6 million will be invested in raising social care standards.
Another $27 million will be used to increase demand for sheep products at home and abroad. The latest $1.7 million has been allocated to improving communication between the lamb chain and the Australian Government.
