After blogging some interesting comments from EFIC  yesterday, VALE notes that EFIC have now clarified their position on financing live export ventures to a "case by case" basis. The Weekly Times article on this update reports that EFIC have only financed one loan for live export slaughter and that was a long time ago.

Read more in : http://linkis.com/com.au/JBUex

According to the BBC, authorities in Brazil have suspended over 30 government officials in response to allegations that some of the country’s biggest meat processors have been “selling rotten beef and poultry for years”.

The BBC has said that “three meat processing plants have been closed and another 21 are under scrutiny”. While some of the meat produced by the factories is consumed domestically, much of it is exported here to Europe. Brazil is currently the world’s largest exporter of red meat.

Perhaps Australia should be jumping into the void....and exporting more meat, less animals. Prime opportunity whilst another country's export meat reputation is in tatters. Just saying......

Read full article here: http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/brazilian-meat-industry-plunged-into-major-scandal/#

According to the Weekly Times, the Federal Government’s export finance credit agency (EFIC) won’t lend money to live exporters because there is  “too much cruelty”.

EFIC Victorian state director Phil Smith explained that the as a government agency it had “a lot of reputational risk to manage". "Supporting a business that is exporting livestock, with all the risks and challenges that has, is not acceptable,” Mr Smith said.

Classic.....way to go EFIC!!! A government department that sees the situation for what it is.
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As for ALEC....perhaps the usual spin just isnt working for them (has it ever?). Seemingly, EFIC has realised that the LE trade has many issues, one of which is its inherently risky nature (Keniry 2003), which would be of concern as a lender. Australia may be the best in the world, but that doesnt make the trade right, good for animals or low risk. And you have to love that line that gets touted ad infinitum re ESCAS, the industry's panacea for animal welfare....it doesnt cover what happens on ships Mr Westaway as you well know!

The tireless and persistent work of ex live-ex vet Lynn Simpson to expose onboard ship conditions as they really are (not how industry wants us to see them) was recognised at the recent Voiceless awards.
Few would have imagined that a live ex vet would ever be present in the same room as Voiceless, let alone having their efforts awarded.
Congratulations to Dr Lynn Simpson and a big thank you to Voiceless for their recognition of one veterinarian's very significant and courageous contribution to animal welfare.

With restrictions on weight for live ex cattle lifted, there is now clearly acknowledged competition between the northern processing industry and the live ex trade. Even George Christensen acknowledges it (albeit he does like to see marketplace competition....?).
So what happened to the old argument....two separate trades? Live ex doesnt hurt domestic processing? Well if it ever was true, it certainly isnt now.
As the article in Beef Central states "At some point, the future of the live-export trade exposed northern meat processing industry must come under scrutiny by government and industry".
Lets hope it wont be before it is all too late and the next wave of abattoir closures occurs.