Australian Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Joe Ludwig, has said he had received confidential advice about the “significant risk” of banning a fishing super-trawler, prior to the Australian government imposing the ban. In September this year, following an intervention by the Australian Minister for Environment, Tony Burke, and the introduction of additional environmental legislation – the Dutch super-trawler Abel Tasman, formerly named The Margiris, was banned for at least two years... ...Read more »

The Australian Government today released its National Food Plan green paper.  The aim is to develop Australia’s first national food plan to integrate all aspects of Government food policy and communication of its strategic direction. Australia’s Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig said he expected to receive feedback from around Australia including groups such as farmers, consumers and supermarket groups.  “It’s quite diverse and that’s why I wanted to bring together the food plan... ...Read more »

The total value of Australian food production increased by 17 per cent in 2010-11, a new government report has revealed. Federal Government’s ‘Australian Food Statistics 2010-11′ report, published today, suggests that “generally favourable seasonal conditions” are largely to thank for the rise in food production during 2010-2011, despite floods in south-eastern Australia and a destructive cyclone in north Queensland. The report also shows that employment in the food industry... ...Read more »

Australia’s agricultural minister Senator Joe Ludwig, is to lead a delegation to the Middle East. The delegation will meet next week with governments and importers to determine a new regulatory framework that seeks to improve welfare for livestock exported from Australia, to meet international standards. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar make up significant markets for livestock exports for Australia and new supply chain assurance frameworks are to apply to a number of these markets from... ...Read more »

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has used an address to members of the National Diet of Japan to support further agricultural trade liberalisation and to emphasise the importance of addressing agricultural protectionist reforms in Japan, by negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Japan is Australia’s largest export market for beef and dairy products and is also a key market for Australian wine. Japan is also an important trading partner for a range of Australian... ...Read more »

The Australian Government will provide pig farmers with the opportunity to earn carbon credits for burning their pig manure, if proposed new legislation is approved under the government’s new Carbon Farming Initiative. The Federal Government has established the Carbon Farming Initiative to develop carbon offsetting methodologies so Australia’s farmers can receive credits for reducing their carbon output. Under the Federal Government’s ‘Methodology for the Destruction of Methane Generated... ...Read more »

The Australian Government’s Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) has ruled that ritual slaughter methods will continue to be exempt from any “stunning” requirements. The decision came at the end of last week (28 October 2011) when the PIMC considered the issue in Melbourne at its 21st meeting. Jewish and Muslim dietary laws do not allow for animals to be stunned before application of the knife by the slaughterer. In respect of this, a number of abattoirs where Kosher slaughter or Halal... ...Read more »

Federal agriculture minister Joe Ludwig last night announced the resumption of the live export of cattle to Indonesia, which was suspended a month ago after a graphic broadcast by ABC’s Four Corners showed ill-treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesian abbatoirs. Senator Ludwig said that cattle exporters could now apply for export permits, provided they use the individual cattle tracking system. The decision came after cattle destined for live export were left in limbo throughout Australia’s... ...Read more »