Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Ban On Australian Beef Lifted, Imports To Resume Next Month

Source: Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, March 14 (Bernama) -- The ban on Australian beef has finally been lifted after the National Fatwa Council declared that the method used to slaughter the animal is acceptable under the Islamic principles.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in announcing this said the import of beef from the country would resume next month.

He said the Council reached its decision yesterday that the use of "pneumatic stunning" to weaken cattle before they are slaughtered did not go against Islam and the meat was halal.

On Feb 8, Muhyiddin said through a statement that the ban on Australian beef since almost a year ago may continue if the party concerned, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), was not willing to comply with conditions stipulated by Malaysia that the animals must be slaughtered according to Islamic ways.

Muhyiddin from March 4 to 12 led a delegation that included the Council's Chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin to study the "pneumatic stunning" that was commonly practised in the beef industry.

However, said Muhyiddin, only five slaughter houses were approved by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to export 30,000 metric tonnes of beef to Malaysia this year.

Jakim would also station its officers in Australia to monitor the slaughter houses to avoid any ambiguity on the halal status of the beef.

Malaysia is the biggest importer of Australian beef with 32,870 metric tonnes valued at RM43.5 million imported last year and 63,540 metric tonnes valued at RM58.5 million in 2004.