Egypt Investigation - Media Background

 

• Since 1995 Australia has exported over 1 million Australian cattle and hundreds of thousands of sheep to Egypt to be slaughtered.
• Egypt has no enforceable animal welfare laws and is recognized internationally as one the most brutal nations in its treatment of animals.
• Since 2001 Animals Australia has repeatedly brought concerns regarding the treatment of animals in Egypt to the attention of the live export industry and federal government. Of particular concern was first hand reports that at Cairo’s main abattoir – Basateen, where the majority of Australian cattle are slaughtered that it was routine to slash the tendons of cattle prior to slaughter.
• In 2001 former CEO of LiveCorp Kevin Shiell admitted to the National Consultative Committee for Animal Welfare (advising Minister Truss at the time) that they were aware of the practice of tendon slashing at Basateen abattoir. Live exporters had shipped to this time some 800,000 cattle to Egypt – the majority of which were slaughtered at this abattoir.
• The live export industry responded to media exposure by installing a restraint device in Basateen abattoir to be used for Australian cattle. Animals Australia was regularly provided with information from informed Egyptian sources (including the Chief Egyptian Veterinary officer) that the restraint box was not used. A soon to be released report citing a senior Egypt official will confirm that the restraint box was not used.
• In January 2005 Animals Australia investigators covertly filmed in Basateen abattoir and documented barbaric treatment of cattle and sheep including the routine slashing of cattle’s leg tendons and the stabbing of eyes. An Egyptian veterinarian interviewed by 60 Minutes confirmed that the restraint box at Basateen abattoir was not used.
• In February 2006 the Federal Government suspended the live trade to Egypt after this footage aired on 60 Minutes.
• On October 3rd 2006 an MOU relating to the handling, transport and slaughter of Australian livestock in Egypt was signed between the Egyptian and Australian governments. Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran who signed the MOU said, ‘Egypt had provided assurances that the health and welfare of Australian livestock exported to Egypt would be protected in line with agreed international standards.’
• The MOU include requirements such as :
  • The handling of Australian live animals during loading, unloading, transport, care, lairaiging, restraining and slaughter must be carried out without causing undue distress to the animals.
  • Animals must be protected from factors causing unnecessary distress
  • Holding facilities must have appropriate facilities for handling animals and have suitable loading and unloading ramp
  • Compliance with OIE (World Animal Health Organisation) guidelines regarding handling transportation and slaughter
• Animals Australia met with Minister McGauran after the signing of the MOU conveying concerns that the Egyptian government had signed the MOU knowing that they and the Egyptian Veterinary service did not have the capacity to monitor or ensure compliance with the MOU due to the large on-selling of Australian sheep to merchants and individual buyers.
• On 11th October 2006 the first shipment of Australian sheep destined for Egypt since the signing of the MOU left Portland in Victoria. Further animals were loaded in Fremantle, Western Australia. The shipment arrived in Egypt on 11th November.
• A newspaper report in Egypt announced that the Ministry of Social Affairs had imported 40,000 Australian sheep for distribution during the Eid-al-Adyr (Feast of the Sacrifice) to be held on 30th December 2006.
• Between 26th December and 30th December Animals Australia investigators were in Cairo documenting the treatment of Australian sheep and to monitor compliance with the new MOU.
• Investigators observed Australian sheep were being sold by merchants from seven different locations in Cairo. Individual buyers were purchasing sheep to take home to sacrifice on the morning of the Eid. Sheep were routinely being dragged by one leg, tied up with rope and then shoved in car boots for journeys of up to two hours – all in breach of the Australian/Egypt MOU.
• Specific incidents of cruelty documented which breach the MOU:
  • Three sheep tied up and transported on the roof rack of a car
  • Three sheep tied up and shoved in the boot of a small car
  • Individual sheep tied up then crammed on their backs together in the backs of a trucks
  • Sheep being thrown from trucks without unloading ramps
  • Sheep being thrown into the backs of trucks
  • Continual incidents of sheep being abused by being dragged on their stomachs, tied up and shoved in car boots.

Summary of MOU requirements – (provided to AA by AFFA)

Requirements of Trade with Egypt

The provisions of the MOU are consistent with the OIE guidelines on animal welfare and several sections explicitly draw on these guidelines.

General handling of Australian Live Animals

The handling of Australian live animals during loading, unloading, transport, care, lairaiging, restraining and slaughter must be carried out without causing undue distress to the animals. Consistent with the OIE guidelines on animal welfare, methods of restraint causing avoidable suffering, such as breaking legs, cutting tendons or blinding animaIs, will not be permitted.

• Consistent with the OIE guidelines on animal welfare and the provisions of the MOU, the Egyptian General Organisation for Veterinary Services (GOVS) will ensure that Australian animals are provided at all times with:
  adequate feed and water;
• sheIter to prevent heat and cold stress;
• management and faciIities to prevent pain, injury and disease;
• protection from other factors causing unnecessary fear and distress; and
• facilities necessary for dealing appropriately with the behaviour of animals.

Unloading of Australian Live Animals at Port of Discharge in Egypt

The facilities for unloading Australian animals from the vessel must be designed and
constructed to take into account the needs and abilities of the animals. Animals are to commence being unloaded within 36 hours of arrival at the port of discharge and acceptance of the live animals by Egyptian authorities.

Holding Facilities

Holding facilities for Australian live animals must:

• protect fully the welfare of the animals including the provision of adequate feed and
  water, shelter, shade and veterinary care;
• have suitable unloading and loading ramps;
• have suitable handling facilities.

Transportation of Australian Live Animals from Holding Facilities to Slaughter Houses

The OIE guidelines on animal welfare must be observed for the transportation of Australian live animals, including pre-journey preparation, journey planning, loading and unloading, and transport within Egypt.

Inspection of approved Egyptian facilities, systems and procedures

Regular audits of Egyptian animal handling facilities and approved slaughter houses will occur to confirm that Australian livestock are being treated, handled and slaughtered humanely in accordance with the OIE guidelines on animal welfare and the provisions of the MOU. A suitably qualified person (approved jointly by Australia and Egypt) will audit the practices and procedures of the animal handling facilities and slaughter houses against documentation reflecting the detailed requirements of the MOU. All initial shipments will be subject to this scrutiny.

(NB The MOU contained further specific requirements regarding Australian cattle, however no cattle shipments have as yet been sent since the suspension of trade was lifted)

Relevant aspects of the OIE Guidelines which Animals Australia’s investigation documented to be extensively and routinely breached in Egypt include:

• Competent animal handlers, and only humane handling of animals (3.7.3.2, 3.7.3.3, 3.7.5.1) permitted
• Appropriate transport vehicles (3.7.3.4) and trained people to load animals (3.7.3.2)
• Transport vehicles to have ventilation and bedding (3.7.3.4), and animals to have room in a vehicle to adopt a normal lying position (3.7.3.6)
• People loading animals to do it without noise or force or harassment (3.7.3.7)
• Ramps and unloading races to be available and used (3.7.5.3) to avoid escape, fear and injury.
• Painful procedures, physical force, implements not to be used to move animals (3.7.3.7)
• The throwing or dropping of animals, or their lifting or dragging by body parts… tails, head, horns, ears, limbs, wool, hair etc, not permitted. (3.7.5.2)
• Conscious animals not to be thrown or dragged (3.7.5.2)
• Loud, sudden noises, shouting, not to occur (at abattoirs, holding areas) (3.7.5.1-3)
• Methods of restraint causing avoidable suffering… should not be used on conscious animals because they cause severe pain and stress - such as the following – mechanical clamping of an animal’s legs or feet, … cutting leg tendons… (3.7.5.2 & 10)
• During the slaughter of animals, a very sharp knife must be used, the point of the knife must remain outside the incision during the cut (3.7.5.9)

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