CANBERRA: Australia has finally been cleared to resume live cattle exports to Japan after a three-month ban was lifted today. Japan temporarily suspended live cattle imports from Australia in May, after a consignment of dairy cattle from Melbourne tested positive for bovine Johne’s disease (BVD).
Today the Federal Government confirmed it had won Japanese approval to re-open the live cattle trade to Japan, which it said was worth more than $14 million dollars a year to Australian farmers. “Our trade in beef and dairy cows to Japan can begin immediately,” Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said.
“The favourable health status of Australian livestock, our stringent biosecurity system and global expertise in live cattle exports mean that we have been able to quickly and effectively address all concerns raised by Japan.