Media Release

11 December 2003 - MVT93/2003

Vaile Visit Opens Talks with Saudis on Live Sheep Exports

A delegation of Australian trade and veterinary officials will travel to Riyadh next month for discussions on a framework to enable the resumption of the live sheep trade with Saudi Arabia. This was agreed during discussions between Trade Minister Mark Vaile and senior Saudi ministers in Riyadh yesterday.

Mr Vaile told Saudi ministers and importers that the resumption of the live sheep trade with Saudi Arabia - traditionally Australia's largest customer - was dependent on the establishment of a framework that enabled the trade to be conducted in transparent and predictable manner.

The discussions in Riyadh came at the end of a week-long visit to the Gulf region and followed the Cormo Express incident.

"The live animal trade is a major export industry of considerable significance to rural and regional Australia," Mr Vaile said. "The present value of the trade exceeds $1 billion per annum, of which about 40 per cent is derived from sales of live sheep."

"The Middle East is the major destination for live sheep exports and the trade underpins Australian sheep prices and meets important nutritional and religious needs in the Middle East."

Mr Vaile has assured major Middle Eastern importers of Australian sheep that Australia remains committed to the trade and will work with importers to ensure that it is conducted in a secure and certain manner.

Leading Saudi importers told Mr Vaile they were keen to see the trade resume as soon as possible and suggested several measures to secure the trade, including that Saudi Arabia consider sending veterinary inspectors to Australia to examine sheep before departure. They also suggested the establishment of a quarantine facility in Saudi Arabia as a safeguard measure to guarantee that all shipments would be offloaded even in the event of a dispute over the health of the animals.

In meetings earlier this week with agriculture and trade ministers from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, Mr Vaile reaffirmed Australia's commitment to remaining a reliable supplier of quality livestock to the region.

Mr Vaile completes a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq today.

Contact:  Brad Williams 02 6277 7420