Australia to Resume Cattle Exports to RI: Minister

Jakarta - After stopping cattle exports to Indonesia for several months in defense of the animals' "welfare", Australia has finally decided to resume the shipments, Agriculture Minister Suswono said here Thursday. "Although we have not yet received a formal letter about it, I heard that Australia has lifted its ban on cattle export to Indonesia," Suswono said during an impromptu visit to Jakarta's Cipinang rice wholesale market together with Trade Minister Mari Pangestu and Bulog (National Logistics Agency) chief Sutarto Alimoeso. As reported earlier, the violence against cattle allegedly happened at several Slaughter Houses (RPH) in Indonesia which was aired on May 30, 2011 by Australian ABC TV led to the Australian cattle exports suspension to Indonesia for 6 months. The cattle export suspension, however, directly caused billions of rupiahs in losses to Australian cattle breeders. To date, the Australian government has not yet conveyed formal notification to Indonesia relating to lifting of the cattles export suspension, Suswono said. "This is a business to business deal, so it is up to the business players, whether they wish to import cattles from Australia or from other countries," the Minister said. Although the export suspension is already lifted, the government will not directly allow the domestic importers to purchase the Australian cattles and quota will be made as needed, Suswono asserted.