21 January 2015

MEDIA RELEASE

ESCAS: Delivering improved animal welfare globally

The Australian Livestock Exporters Council (ALEC) has today welcomed the Governments report into the Exporter
Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) which found that the implementation of ESCAS coupled with exporter and
customer targeted training in handling, husbandry and slaughter practices and infrastructure investment in feedlots
and abattoirs has delivered significant improvements to the welfare of Australian exported livestock and local
livestock in export markets.
The Chairman of ALEC, Simon Crean said that in the just the two years of full ESCAS application the Australian
livestock export trade has made huge inroads into improving animal welfare outcomes and placed the trade on a
stronger footing to support its ongoing vital economic and job sustaining role in regional Australia.
In 2011, the industry was in a difficult and dark place and facing its greatest challenge yet. The implementation of
ESCAS a world first attempt to manage the welfare of exported livestock along supply chains beyond our borders
where significant welfare issues had been identified was a bold move by the then Government and an incredible
test of live exporters relationship with downstream customers, Mr Crean said.
But with the support of successive governments, the tenacity and commitment of exporters, the resource support
of LiveCorp and Meat and Livestock Australia and the willingness of our customers and their staff to work with us,
vastly improved treatment of Australian livestock overseas has been achieved and a steady course for further
positive change has been established.
Thats not to say that in getting to where we are today, we have not had our challenges along the way. As the
report acknowledges there have still been mistreatment of livestock in the years under ESCAS 22 incidents in total that do not reflect well on the industry. But not only are these incidents much fewer under ESCAS, as an industry
now, we look more harshly and critically on our failings, self-report them when they occur and work to treat the
problems at the source as we strive for continuous improvement to be the best version of a live export industry we
can be.
A key to the improvements has been the millions invested in new and improved infrastructure and the training of
over 7500 workers who have daily charge of Australian livestock in feedlots and abattoirs in over 19 countries
around the world. Additionally, implementing processes like carcase only sales has enabled us to marry animal
welfare, religious practices and commerce.
Industrys efforts have already been recognised by the OIE the pre-eminent international animal health and
welfare body. At the LIVEXchange Conference in October 2013 the Head of OIEs International Trade section, Derek
Belton said that the Australian live trade is leading the world in animal welfare and that industrys investments in
improving implementation of OIE welfare standards has its full and unequivocal support.
The Chief Executive Officer of ALEC, Alison Penfold said that exporters welcomed the reports support for further
reform of ESCAS.
The Australian livestock export trade is not an industry that ever stands still so we welcome the Governments
commitment to pursue further improvements to ESCAS to remove unnecessary red tape and reduce the cost of its
bureaucracy and build on the regulatory changes already made, Ms Penfold said.
If we are to remain internationally competitive in a robust global live trade environment and continue to provide
the market alternatives for Australian cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat producers, we must have a regulatory structure
that facilitates trade and helps us grow our influence across the globe.

As the report highlights, paper bureaucracy is excessive and aspects of the system focus too much on process rather
than on outcomes. This just adds up to excessive costs on industry without any welfare gain.
The maturity of the Governments approach to reform is a strong signal to industry that the Government is
genuinely interested in recalibrating ESCAS and exploring the role of an industry through-chain assurance system to
reduce cost and red tape while maintaining welfare safeguards something we enthusiastically embrace.
Ends
For more information on the changes to animal welfare implemented by Australian exporters in export markets,
please visit http://auslivestockexport.com/ and watch the video in the Animal Welfare Quick Links section.
Contact: Simon Crean 0419 881 877
Contact: Alison Penfold 0408 633 026