RIYADH, 29 August 2003 — The Australian government has suspended further shipments of livestock to Saudi Arabia pending the negotiation of an effective mechanism to ensure the safe entry of its livestock into the Kingdom.
The decision follows the rejection of a shipment of 57,000 Australian sheep by Saudi authorities this week, according to an Australian Embassy statement released here yesterday.
The statement said that Australian exports of livestock to the Kingdom were suspended after diplomatic efforts failed to resolve a deadlock over one particular shipment Saudi Arabia says was infected. The ship from Jeddah Islamic Port is now heading for an alternative port. The decision to block the shipment comes amid scares of animal diseases which could infect Saudi herds.
This is not the first time that the Kingdom has stopped an Australian shipment. A consignment of 75,000 sheep from Australia was also rejected in 1995 following an examination by Saudi officials.
