The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is undertaking an investigation into video footage of abhorrent animal cruelty at an abattoir not approved to receive Australian cattle in Vietnam.
The video footage is part of a complaint lodged by Animals Australia alleging that Australian cattle are being supplied to non-approved abattoirs in the Phu Xuygen district and handling and slaughter practices being used in some Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) approved abattoirs in Vietnam do not meet ESCAS requirements.
The department’s first priority is to ensure the humane handling of all animals exported from Australia.
Exporters were immediately informed of the complaint so that urgent action could be taken to protect the welfare of cattle currently in Vietnam.
The department is requiring exporters to review all systems, processes and facilities in their Vietnam supply chains. To date, four exporters have notified the department that they are suspending exports to some of their facilities in Vietnam while they review their ESCAS arrangements.
The Australian Live Export Council has advised that all abattoirs in the Bai Do region are suspended under the six point plan for all exporters, as well as a feedlot and abattoir separately reported by two exporters as being non-compliant with ESCAS arrangements. This means that these facilities will not receive Australian animals until the suspension is lifted.
The department has informed Vietnamese authorities of the complaint and is working with exporters to identify ESCAS approved facilities named in the Animals Australia complaint.
The department is in the process of obtaining details of the number of animals in suspended facilities. Exporters will be required to supervise the management and slaughter of their animals in these facilities.
ESCAS is designed to consistently improve welfare outcomes for feeder and slaughter animals in markets that receive Australian livestock.
Through ESCAS, every incident reported by industry, third parties or discovered through audit findings is investigated and exporters are required to address any issue identified.
Regulatory requirements placed on exporters and supply chains by the department are assessed by independent auditors.
While Animals Australia informed the department of the allegations on 9 June, the first preliminary evidence required to start a formal investigation was received by the department late afternoon on Friday 10 June following a written request; further information was received on 13 and 15 June.
