MEDIA RELEASE
Wellard, like many Australian exporters who have invested resources to make Australia’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance Scheme (ESCAS) work, is frustrated that the positive impact of ESCAS is being undermined by the recent events in Jordan during the current Eid Festival.
Although this has been portrayed as an industry issue, Wellard believes it is not industry wide and is limited to a certain supply chain.
Wellard’s experience with ESCAS is that it can work, but only when exporters and importers are committed to making it work. Companies that are prepared to devote the time and resources can ensure the animal welfare outcomes required under the ESCAS program are achieved in target markets.
“For the 2013 Eid in Jordan, Wellard has seven people working on the ground for a week to assist the importer and its customers,” said Wellard Rural Exports CEO Fred Troncone.
“The Australian public, and indeed people in markets that import Australian livestock, have an expectation that animals will be treated humanely and the ongoing viability of our industry depends on our ability to demonstrate that we can deliver on these expectations.”
ESCAS has made a significant contribution to improving the handling and treatment of animals.
“The system was implemented to bring about cultural change, which requires sustained effort and takes time,” Mr Troncone said.
“The ESCAS system does not have to be abandoned, but rather improved as it is based on sound philosophy and assures the long term best interests of the industry. The fact that it presents some practical challenges or cost pressures is not good enough reason to scrap it.
“The progress made in advancing animal welfare in Australia’s markets over the past two years has been significant and these efforts should continue.
“The learnings from this year will be applied next year to make further improvements to the Eid/ESCAS system.”
Wellard staff and contractors currently working in Jordan are training international livestock handlers, using fit for purpose designed sheep trolleys to move sheep around and have fitted the abattoir with a new processing race and table to provide better animal welfare outcomes.
ENDS
Media note:
The following images were supplied by Wellard employees in Jordan. Digital copies are provided on request.
Image 1: Wellard has worked with its customer in Jordan to provide fit-for-purpose sheep trolleys to ensure animal welfare standards are maintained.
Image 2: A non-Wellard supplied sheep (still alive) purchased from a market outside the ESCAS system.
For further information please contact:
Mike Groves
Phone: + 61 8 9485 8888
Mobile: +61 427 065 551