English
Indonesia
Minister of Agriculture Opens Zones for Beef Import
Jakarta - Despite strong disapproval from farmers and stakeholders, including recommendations from Commission IV of the Indonesian Parliament, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono still changed the policy on beef import from country-based to zone-based. According to Director General of Livestock from the Ministry of Agriculture, Tjeppy D Soedjana, on Tuesday (21/4) in Jakarta, the policy is stated in the Minister of Agriculture’s Directive (Peraturan Menteri Pertanian/Permentan) No. 20 Year 2009 on Import and Supervision of Carcass, Meat, and Offal Distribution from Other Countries which was issued on April 8, 2009.
“Even though the Permentan had been signed, it doesn’t mean that beef import could be immediately conducted. There are many phases to go through to ensure that the beef imported is truly from production units that fit our requirements,” said Tjeppy.
Records show that import of beef, cattle carcass, and cattle offal have been from Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, and Canada so far. With the change in the import policy, import of boneless beef could be conducted from countries outside of the ones mentioned above.
Tjeppy said the Indonesian government had signed an OIE resolution (OIE is the World Animal Health Organization). Consequently, international trade of animals and animal products should refer to that resolution.
Regarding beef, OIE stated that importing beef from a free country according to zoning for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is possible. Therefore, Indonesia gave out notifications, which finished by March 9, 2009, that it will change the import policy for beef from country-based to zone-based. So far, said Tjeppy, Brazil had been stated free of FMD according to zoning. From 26 states in Brazil, there are 17 FMD-free zones. From 17 zones, 16 zones are free with vaccination and one zone is free without vaccination.
Coordinator of the Save the Country from FMD Forum whom is also Secretary General of the Indonesian Cattle-Water Buffalo Farmer Association, Teguh Boediyana, said the new policy from the Ministry of Agriculture is a threat to the continuity of domestic cattle farms. Currently more than 90 percent of cattle farms in Indonesia, both beef cattle and dairy, are owned by local people. “Threats to these farms are also threats to the public economy and rural economy,” he said.
FMD infection in cattle will make the animals and other ruminants non-productive. It will kill the rural economy which depends on local people as its basis.
The decision made by the Ministry of Agriculture is considered against the economy development policy of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that is pro-poor and pro-rural development. Also, signing of the Permentan was also conducted without further assessment because in the audience meeting with Commission IV of the Indonesian Parliament, the Directorate General of Livestock, and stakeholders, Commission IV has asked the Ministry to further assess everything related to changing the policy of beef import. (mas)
Source : Kompas