Australia insists sheep are fit for consumption
Australian authorities on Monday categorically denied accusations of exporting diseased sheep to Pakistan and maintained scabby mouth was only a “common and minor” ailment.
“The confusion around the delivery of a consignment of live sheep to Pakistan earlier this month is unfortunate, as is the suggestion that Australia would export diseased or inferior animals that would not be consumed at home,” said a statement issued by Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward.
He maintained the livestock delivered to Pakistan were inspected by the Australian government and assessed to meet international standards. “The animals were certified for export and met Pakistan’s animal health requirements for imported sheep.”
Heyward said the same ship that carried the sheep to Pakistan also delivered sheep to Muscat in Oman and Doha in Qatar, where they were unloaded without incident and are being processed.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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I wouldnt mind betting some of these sheep found their way into the market place . They were tested by laboraties in UK and inspected by vets from the middle east they were healthy sheep . Australia must ban all sheep exports to Pakistan until the corrupt officials are weeded out . I have heard BOTH sides of the story as i live part of the year in Australia .I am ashamed at how my Country men have acted ,it gives all Pakistan people a bad reputation . If people in Islamabad pay high prices for lamb this year blame the officials who killed 22,000 healthy sheep . The Australian government is under pressure to ban all live animal exports to Pakistan ,if they do the people are the ones who will suffer and pay high prices .
Truth, You have said it as it is.Agreed 100%. Regards
This media hype and smear campaign needs to stop and actually start investigating for the truth. The sheep arrived into Pakistan without infection and have been in Karachi since almost 2 weeks. They are still very lively, actively mobile, and show no signs of weakness or any sickness. Certain government officials, along with the media, and other such influential people have taken this story too far with false information, propaganda and lies. It would be more appropriate for Pakistani and international journalists to communicate and verify all information and evidence with Australian authorities, international doctors (i.e. vets) as well as legitimate and unbiased livestock experts to find out the truth of the entire matter. The sheep were in perfectly healthy condition throughout their travel and arrival into Pakistan. Healthy sheep consignments were also delivered to Oman and Qatar without any issues. Bahrain's so-called "rejection" of the sheep was politically motivated. The vets traveling in the Australian ship as well as port authorities in Karachi allowed the arrival of the sheep into Pakistan because they were in good condition. The Australian exporters would not dare to sell infected animals anywhere in the world. It would only ruin their international reputation and future trade relations. Similarly, the accused Pakistani importer/exporter would not risk and jeopardize its own market reputation and export business.
Still, what is unfortunate is that the sheep have yet to be tested properly and professionally within Pakistan. It is ridiculous, but local government officials and "doctors" visited the farm on numerous occasions before the culling process began, but they do not even have the sufficient means, knowledge or expertise to take effective blood samples and conduct proper tests. Yet their so-called "results" are being published and shared with the public without any verification. The information shared until now, and the super swift action taken to cull the sheep so far have been without legitimate evidence, all due to hidden interests, media pressure, commercial and political motives, and orders "from the top". At present, the government-appointed butchers are merely slitting uninfected throats and dumping healthy sheep into deep ditches. One can only pray that this group of butchers, appointed by the Sindh Government, do not create an actual infection within the burial site of the dead sheep. Hopefully, the truth will surface from this media fiasco, political manipulation and mysterious motives.
This is like arguing over the position of the moon -- it shouldn't be subject to debate. If the sheep disease is limited to scabby mouth then their safe for consumption.
Cook one sheep and ask Australian ambassador to eat in front of public
@Random:
The misleading statements are coming from the authorities here. The sheep were tested at their arrival and the test report was conducted at the National Veterinary Laboratory Islamabad. However amazingly after their transfer to their present premises, another test was now conducted by the poultry center. The poultry center has now declared the livestock infected.
Why on earth did the poultry center get involved? Who made them come out with these results? The relevant laboratory is naturally the National Verterinary Laboratory.
Since when have our departments become so efficient?
Please look at the facts, not the rubbish being presented by some parts of the media and officials.
@A K N: Sir, Your man in meat processing business ! A Pkistani business house owner ! Why is he silent? why not he takes up this techno-legal case with authorities? He does not even come up to the surface. How would you, dear A K N, feel if I say: "MUDDA'I SUSST GAWA CHUSST" ..
You are taking support in his favour by quoting crimes being committed in Pakistani slaughter houses, and trying to prove that meat of these cursed sheep is comparative better.
Shaabash... What an indigenous style of argument.
what a bunch of misleading statements that are meant to communicate that the sheep are perfectly healthy while skimming around the main issue. The ambassador mentions that the sheep were inspected while leaving Australia but this does not mean they are healthy now and surely he does not mention why the ship was not allowed to camp at bahrain and why the sheep were rejected.
This also shoes the mentality that He knows more than the vets and specialists who have inspected the sheep and we should now all accept that the sheep are healthy just because Mr Ambassador says so..
@Zahid Hussain:
These animals are in better health than practically any flock in Pakistan.
Do you people realize that none of the animals brought to slaughter houses in Pakistan are tested for any disease. In fact there is a burgeoning business of mixing carrion(meat from animals who died before they were slaughtered).
The irony of all this is, that the person who is running the cleanest, most hygienic plant in Pakistan is being maligned and his business being destroyed. Everyone is jumping on to the band wagon without knowing the facts and targeting an easy target.
Why has the media not even once reported about the two new sugar mills being set up by the front men of the most powerful man in Pakistan. Not even one article about how the water from the canals is being siphoned off to irrigate the biggest farms in Pakistan which also belong to the front men of the most powerful man in Pakistan. Farmers at the tail end of these canals are left with no water for months on end, while these farms take all the water they want despite massive water shortages in the system.
Please people, see the truth.
Pakistan should ban all meat imports from Australia. Period!
“The animals were certified for export and met Pakistan’s animal health requirements for imported sheep.”
Pakistan does not have a standard. As long as the sheep goes Baaaaaaa, it is acceptable.
@sabi: why don't you buy a couple of these for your home... I'm sure you would find how truthful these Australians are. Whatever a Gora says is truthful, when your own doctors say its infected, it's unacceptable to you. Go to Australia, MATE!
Its sad how they treat people from countries where the incomes are lower.
Typical western double standards
Most of the participants here are "blind man running for a black cat in a dark room".
The importer of this deseased lot is a big gun, working under the protective cover of still bigger guns. He will remain obscure, and you guy will keep on beating about the bush. Try to find him and his corroborators if you think yourself Mr. Smart.
My worry (it is certainly not unexpected from these unscruplous people). is that some of the meat would have found its way into butchers shop for Karachites' dining tables.
Dead and skinned,yes. But they will still find their way into peoples stomachs!
@Fahim Alavi: Oman and Qatar are also in the Middle East, and they accepted the sheep from the same ship. Only Bahrain rejected them, probably like Pakistan some one "important" did not get paid.
The sheep are in better health than any other flock in Pakistan. Those who have no idea about animal raising in Pakistan should open their eyes and see that this is a scheme to punish the importer for not bowing down to the extortion demands of "important" people.
Its false claim, 100%, because: 1- The original shipment was destined to gulf Kingdom of Bahrain, where they were rejected for the very same reason given by Pak authorities. Ship was stranded for 3 weeks in open sea and then diverted to Karachi. 2- The sheep were sold for US$ 3.00 (app. PRs. 286.00) per head. How is it possible to sell an healthy animal at such a level when price of meat in the market ranges between PRs 550 - 650 per kG. (If there is any love-lost for Pakistan in Australia??) 3- If these were healthy, as claimed, why did they agree to dump the whole lot. They could have rather found alternative market in the nearby Gulf states.
Pakistan has become easy victim for everyone; therefore, Australia, also, enjoyed this festivity to have sold infected sheep to us. When we ourselves are not interested in the drama of welfare of the nation dreamed by our Leader. Just think: ***a bulk of innocent people are being killed by rational animals so what's the problem when they would be killed by infected animals.*** This death would be reasonable than being slaughtered by rational animal.The ambassador is probably right, but like every other issue that gets politicized, the sheep will be all dead and skinned before the truth is discovered.
Send the sheep back to Australia and let's see if they let them inside Australia...
This Australian Ship was unloading the lambs in the ocean having water all around. Eventually all lambs were able to swim and reached the land without anybody's notice. Where were the agencies who were dealing with this shipment. Who is behind this shipment and allowed it to offload in Pakistan?.
Some body must have like health department inspectors examined the shipment before allowing to off load. Who cares that the meet and hide would be consumed by local commoners (who have no right of health to live) through black market. The importer will get 100% recovery as we all know the best practices of our beloved agencies and leadership.
Why not eliminate all people at once and forever so that our agencies and leaders can enjoy solace & serenity.
the statement of the australian high commissioner is an ingenuous attempt to prevaricate on the issue.he states that the sheep were inspected by the australian government before they were exported . this means that they may have been inspected before they left australia.but the sheep must have developed the symtoms of the disease while in transit as the bahraini govt refused them entry. DID ANY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INSPECT THEM WHILE THE SHIP WAITED FOR MORE THAN 3 WEEEKS OUTSIDE THE BAHRAINI PORT? i doubt it. Take another look at the issue mister high commissioner and dont try to fool us.
I can't understand why they bought them before checking them even after Bahrain rejected them. The officers responsible should be punished and the expenses be recovered from them.
The sheep are unfit only because the importer didn't pay bhatta to all concerned.
Lets arrange a feast of the Australian Ambassador and his family for 30 Days straight. The feast should be grand with a wide variety of dishes prepared from these delicious Australian lambs. If they remain fit, the sheep should be deemed fit for human consumption and an official apology should be tendered to Australia. Otherwise, the Ambassador should apologize.
They were upto standards ? then why not accepted in middle east ?
This statement by Australian authorities is a reaffirmation to my previous comments on infected sheep issue.I suggest that government should reconsider it's decision and do proper inquiry.
then send them back to Australia and Aussies will be happy to consume them.