SYDNEY, 28 August 2003 — Australia called on Saudi Arabia to reconsider its rejection of a shipload of 57,000 sheep yesterday, claiming Saudi veterinarians had made a mistake when examining the live cargo.
The sheep arrived in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Friday, but Saudi veterinarians ruled that six percent had the disease scabby mouth, exceeding the Saudi limit of five percent. The disease led to imports of Australian live sheep being banned in Saudi Arabia for nine years from 1991. Since the trade resumed in 2000, Saudi Arabia has become Australia’s largest market for live sheep, importing $78 million worth last year.
The viral disease, which causes cold sore-like scabs on the sheep’s mouth, can cause lesions on the arms of humans who handle infected animals.
Australian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bob Tyson said he had asked the Saudis to make a second inspection of the sheep aboard the Cormo Express.
“There is a major discrepancy in the assessment of the Saudi vets and our own vets, and our feeling is that there is not a significant level of scabby mouth on that ship,” Tyson told ABC Radio.
“We’re confident that second inspection will show that our figures are much closer to the truth.”
The opposition demanded to know why the sheep aboard the Cormo Express had been given a clean bill of health before leaving the port of Fremantle in Western Australia state.
“This episode is the latest in a series of disasters to hit the industry ... and could do lasting damage to Australia’s lucrative live trade with the Middle East,” opposition trade spokesman Kerry O’Brien said.
An Australian Embassy official said his country had not received any official indication that the Kingdom was considering a ban.
“We are making every effort to make sure that livestock exported from our country is free from contagious diseases,” the embassy official said.
Saudi Arabia resumed import of Australian sheep two years ago after the trade was suspended in 1991 on health grounds.
