Egyptian animal welfare authority welcomes re-opening of Australian live exports

Egypt One of Egypt’s leading authorities on animal welfare has welcomed a Memorandum of Understanding to re-open the live export trade between Australia and Egypt. Mr Ahmed El Sherbiny, Chairperson of the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, said: “I was pleased to hear that Australia expects to increase the amount of live sheep and cattle it exports to the Middle East over the coming years.” “As a friend of animals, I am pleased that [Australian industry] has shown committed effort to lifting animal handling standards across the Middle East and North Africa.” Mr El Sherbiny said he looked forward to Australia “lifting the bar for all exporters and abattoirs”. “Without a major partner in the region’s meat trade taking such a stand I believe standards in our part of the world might even fall.” Mr El Sherbiny has also commended an animal welfare education workshop for government officials and vets from regional abattoirs, organised by Australian industry in Egypt last month. He said the seminar had boosted participants’ “knowledge and enthusiasm to bring changes to Animal Welfare in Egypt by the participants”. “The personnel trained on this course will in turn pass on their knowledge,” he said. Meat and Livestock Australia, Middle East and Africa Region Manager Dr. Nigel Brown said Mr El Sherbiny’s comments reflected the value of Australia’s work to boost animal care standards in the region and put the lie to Australian animal activists’ spin. “Mr El Sherbiny is an animal advocate who sees what’s happening on the ground in Egypt. Do you listen to him or activists 9,000 km away in Australia?” “For decades MLA and LiveCorp have been implementing initiatives to improve animal welfare in the livestock export trade to the Middle East,” Dr Brown said. “We’re committed to continuing this work into the future. Best-practice animal care is a not-negotiable in Australian live exports.” Dr Brown said the signing of the MoU paved the way for a welcome return to trade in live exports between the two countries. ***ENDS***