ABA Chairman, Brad Bellinger said today, I cautiously welcome the announcement
of Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke to change the Governments policy on
the importation of beef from countries with BSE.
The new policy that includes an Import Risk Analysis that will involve
Australian control over a more thorough investigation process that could last
for two years. This is a step in the right direction for Minister Burke. He must
realize now how bad the advice that he has got from DAFF and RMAC/NFF has been
Mr Bellinger said.
Brad Bellinger continued, In the Minister's media release the phrase "could
last for two years' should be replaced by "will last for two years'. The science
on BSE and its variants CJD and TSE is still evolving and Australia must be very
cautious before it relinquishes its unique status as 'BSE free'. ABA will
continue to research the issue and to explain the logic of our six point case
for a ban on the importation of beef from BSE affected countries.
Mr Bellinger thanked Senators Bill Heffernan, Chris Back and Fiona Nash for
their determination and perseverance during three senate hearings to reveal the
truth behind the BSE debacle.
'The three Senators gave us the chance to bring some sanity into Canberra.
The beef industry owes them a great debt of gratitude. They gave the Minister
the chance to do a last minute rejection of the advice from levy funded Cattle
Council/ALFA, as he belatedly recognised the views of the 'silent 99%' of
Australia's 200,000 beef producers.
The private members bill to be pushed through the Senate today, now seems
irrelevant, as we move to a more consultative process to not only protect the
livelihoods of beef producers but the lives of 22 million Australian citizens
from the risk of exposure to the deadly BSE prion'.
For more information please contact Brad Bellinger on 02 6725 4282 Mob 045
822 8989
John Carter 02 4832 1179 or Mob 0427 321 179
abaaustralia
Source: newsroom - meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
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