CANBERRA - Two Australian cattle exporters have breached new live exports rules by using Indonesian abattoirs that did not meet approved standards.
A federal government investigation of a complaint from Animals Australia found that International Livestock Exports and North Australian Cattle Company were responsible for 37 breaches of new animal welfare standards.
The department found that two of four abattoirs shown in video footage processed Australian cattle and were part of approved exporter supply chain assurance systems.
These are the guidelines for animal welfare which exporters must show are met by overseas abattoirs they use. Breaches included not properly restraining heads before killings, not making sure animals were dead, and moving or throwing water on them before confirming their deaths.
The other two abattoirs in the footage also were investigated but the agriculture department found no evidence they were processing Australian animals.
The department will take action against the two exporters, including stopping them from using the abattoirs identified.