Indonesia to resume Australia cattle imports

Indonesia will import 180,000 cattle from Australia in the third quarter following Canberra's lifting of a ban on livestock exports, an Indonesian economic minister said Friday. Coordinating minister for economics Hatta Rajasa said after meeting Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd that Indonesia would also improve conditions at all abattoirs in the country. "Indonesia will also implement independent audits to those abattoirs," Rajasa said. Rudd said Indonesia implemented its own animal welfare standards through its import permits. "Australia also welcomes Indonesia's statement today that import permits for 180,000 cattle have been issued as of around nine o'clock this morning," Rudd said. Australia on Wednesday lifted a month-long ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia and resumed the trade with additional safeguards in place to address animal cruelty concerns. "Indonesia already has animal welfare regulations which refer to the international standards. Our importers have to meet our standards and our regulations adhere to an international standard and Islam's halal regulations," Rajasa said. Australia imposed the ban on live cattle shipments to Indonesia after a documentary showing graphic acts of cruelty to cows in the archipelago's abattoirs sparked an angry public backlash. Live exports, which also include sheep, were worth Aus$1.14 billion ($1.23 billion) in 2010 according to the most recent figures, of which Indonesia accounted for Aus$320 million, making it Australia's biggest market.