The fate of the cargo on the live export ship MV Bahijah remains up the air after the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) rejected a 26 January application for re-export.
The Department found that the requirements of the Export Control Act 2020 had not, or will not be, complied with by the time it arrives at its destination; the importing country requirements relating to the livestock had not been met; and that the Department was not satisfied with the shipping arrangements for the livestock’s health and welfare.
The Department said the livestock on the vessel continue to be in good health and they remain under veterinary care and supervision, with no suspicion of exotic pests or diseases.
DAFF said the exporter is responsible for the next action on the cargo, and the department said it was “continuing to work with relevant stakeholders to manage the health and welfare of the livestock and uphold Australia’s biosecurity”.
The Australian Live Exporters Council (ALEC) criticised the decision to place the next steps in the exporter’s hands.
“It is DAFF’s responsibility to make the decision, and this is what they have done in announcing that they will not be approving the exporter’s application to re-export the animals via the Cape of Good Hope,” said an ALEC spokesperson.
ALEC said any attempt to use the issue to further the Government’s proposed ban on live sheep exports “would be cheap, callous, and cynical”.
It has now been a full month since the vessel departed from Fremantle, WA on January 5 with 15,000 sheep and 2,500 cattle, destined for Israel but redirected to South Africa out of fear of attack by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. DAFF then directed the ship to return to Australia, where it waited offshore before docking on February 1 to replenish supplies.