Australian Beef Import Laws Under Scrutiny

Australia has come under pressure to change is policy on beef imports from countries affected by mad cow disease.

While the nation has lifted a blanket ban on the import of beef from affected countries, it is still undertaking close checks on imports, which, legally, could leave it open to contention.

An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson, Tim Yeend, said countries affected by mad cow disease had been raising the issues of bans and checks with the WTO for years.

Canada is currently in dispute with Korea for a similar reason.

Australia’s opposition has been against the changes to policy that it considers put Australia’s beef industry status as ‘disease free’ at risk.