ID :
12108
Thu, 07/10/2008 - 20:41
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http://m.oananews.org//node/12108
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KTNA AGAINST IMPORTING BEEF FROM BRAZIL
Jakarta, July 10 (ANTARA) - The Agriculture Ministry's decision to temporarily stop beef imports from New Zealand may just be a move to pave the way for Brazilian beef to enter Indonesia, a farmers' organization said here Thursday.
Chairman of the Fishermen's and Farmers' Contact Body (KTNA) Winarno Tohir said Indonesia was so far meeting its need for beef with imports from New Zealand because the World Organization on Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties/OIE) had declared New Zealand free from animal disease.
But since July 7, the Director General of Animal Husbandry at the Agriculture Ministry had suspended import of beef, carcasses and innards from New Zealand while questioning their halal status.
Winarno said the director general's decision would cause beef scarcity in the domestic market and thus necessitate beef imports from other countries, including Brazil.
"There is an indication of this (beef import from Brazil). On July 11-12 the Brazilian President will visit Indonesia and this moment might be used to negotiate possible import of Brazilian beef," he added.
He expressed concern that import from Brazil would spread foot and mouth disease (FMD) to local husbandry, as the country has not been stated as FMD-free.
He also questioned the ministry's authority to take a decision on ground of halal status, because requirement on halal status should come from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).
"The ministry should only focus on disease while for halal status let it be handled by MUI. In addition, decision to stop import should become the authority of Trade Ministry," he said.
Previously, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono in his visit to Brazil held a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart who offered beef export to Indonesia.
Indonesia has imported beef from the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Import from New Zealand in 2007 has reached 14,000 tons and as of June 2008, the import has amounted at 7,942 tons.
Innards import from the country has amounted at 1,060 tons in 2007, and by the end of June 2008 has reached 1,500 tons.
OIE restore FMD statusMeanwhile, OIE has reportedly restore FMD status for Brazil effective on May 24, 2008.
In a statement released in its website www.oie.int, the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases of OIE recognized that as from 24 May 2008 zone 1 and zone 2 of Brazil have regained their FMD-free status practising vaccination.
The Commission has evaluated the documentation concerning the control of foot and mouth disease in Brazil following outbreaks of FMD in two zones.
The first zone was affected by an outbreak in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul on September 30,2005 and the second zone was affected by an outbreak in the State of Parana on October 32, d2005.
Zone 1 comprised the states of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, Tocantins while zone 2 comprised the states of Distrito Federal, Goias, Mato Grosso, Parana, Sao Paulo.
Chairman of the Fishermen's and Farmers' Contact Body (KTNA) Winarno Tohir said Indonesia was so far meeting its need for beef with imports from New Zealand because the World Organization on Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties/OIE) had declared New Zealand free from animal disease.
But since July 7, the Director General of Animal Husbandry at the Agriculture Ministry had suspended import of beef, carcasses and innards from New Zealand while questioning their halal status.
Winarno said the director general's decision would cause beef scarcity in the domestic market and thus necessitate beef imports from other countries, including Brazil.
"There is an indication of this (beef import from Brazil). On July 11-12 the Brazilian President will visit Indonesia and this moment might be used to negotiate possible import of Brazilian beef," he added.
He expressed concern that import from Brazil would spread foot and mouth disease (FMD) to local husbandry, as the country has not been stated as FMD-free.
He also questioned the ministry's authority to take a decision on ground of halal status, because requirement on halal status should come from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).
"The ministry should only focus on disease while for halal status let it be handled by MUI. In addition, decision to stop import should become the authority of Trade Ministry," he said.
Previously, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono in his visit to Brazil held a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart who offered beef export to Indonesia.
Indonesia has imported beef from the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Import from New Zealand in 2007 has reached 14,000 tons and as of June 2008, the import has amounted at 7,942 tons.
Innards import from the country has amounted at 1,060 tons in 2007, and by the end of June 2008 has reached 1,500 tons.
OIE restore FMD statusMeanwhile, OIE has reportedly restore FMD status for Brazil effective on May 24, 2008.
In a statement released in its website www.oie.int, the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases of OIE recognized that as from 24 May 2008 zone 1 and zone 2 of Brazil have regained their FMD-free status practising vaccination.
The Commission has evaluated the documentation concerning the control of foot and mouth disease in Brazil following outbreaks of FMD in two zones.
The first zone was affected by an outbreak in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul on September 30,2005 and the second zone was affected by an outbreak in the State of Parana on October 32, d2005.
Zone 1 comprised the states of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, Tocantins while zone 2 comprised the states of Distrito Federal, Goias, Mato Grosso, Parana, Sao Paulo.
