News
New Morocco market proves ongoing demand for live exports
The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council said today that it was pleased with the signing of a new protocol paving the way for the export of Australian livestock to Morocco.
ALEC CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton said the protocol would allow Australian exporters access to the Moroccan market, which was in need of livestock to support its local herds which have been decimated due to drought.
“This announcement is another proof point that the live export trade solves real problems for countries overseas, feeding people with a reliable product and provides a valuable market for our farmers.”
“It is excellent to see that Australian exports will be able to supply Moroccan customers, supporting their local herds with Australian sheep and another market for Australian farmers.”
Mr Harvey-Sutton, who was recently in Morocco, said that Moroccan Government had been pushing for the livestock for nearly 18 months and needed the Australian market to open due to the reliability of supply.
“The Moroccan Agricultural Minister personally conveyed to us how important opening this trade with Australian will be to their country’s food security. We were in turn able to convey how beneficial opening this market will be for WA sheep producers and that the trade will be a positive development for both our countries.”
“With other markets providing inconsistent supply or having issues with disease, Australian livestock are in demand, due to our reliability and disease-free status,” he said.
He also said that the renewed push from Morocco and other international markets put paid to the Government’s assertions that livestock exports were a ‘dying trade’.
“The reality is that countries across the world value our live exports and there will only be greater demands for protein in the future.”
Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins said this week as she departs for the UK and the EU that she will be engaging on issues such as ‘food security’ as part of her trip. Mr Harvey-Sutton said it was a shame that the Government’s policy was ignoring the food security needs of nations like Morocco past 2028, when the live sheep ban is due to commence.
“Minister Collins should be cautious in saying her government has set the example in Australia, when there has already been a decline the WA sheep flock and abattoir closures resulting in hundreds of jobs lost because of this policy.”
MEDIA
Bridie Ward
0491 276 036 media@livexcouncil.com.au