The Department of Agriculture has extended the prohibition on live sheep exports to, or through, the Middle East until 22 September.
In a statement explaining the move, the Department said it was taken after considering the best available science and evidence as well as feedback from the public.
“The interests of the industry, animal welfare and Government policy were also taken into account,” the Department said.
“Evidence indicates the risk of heat stress for voyages departing Australia in the first three weeks of September is comparable to, or higher than in June,” it said.
It determined that conditions in June (along with July and August) were too hot for sheep exports.
“The industry came to a similar conclusion,” it said.
It said sheep departing Australia in early-to-mid September were acclimatised to cooler Australian temperatures and therefore less heat tolerant than sheep departing in Australian summer or autumn months.
“For October, the risk of an animal welfare incident related to heat stress is more aligned with conditions in May,” the Department said.
It ruled that once trade resumed, shipments to, or through, the Middle East must comply with the same conditions that applied in May.
These included verification of the ship’s pen air turnover; a heat stress management plan; stocking sheep in accordance with an allometric formula or the heat stress assessment model; and the collection of automated environmental data (wet bulb temperatures) to be reported to the Department.
“This decision only relates to 2019,” the Department said.
“Future regulation of live sheep exports to, or through, the Middle East will be decided following a Regulation Impact Statement process,” it said.
