Live sheep exports to the Middle East

Consultation has closed.

We conducted a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) process for live sheep exports to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer. The RIS analysed the economic and regulatory impacts of 3 proposed policy options.

How you had your say

We started the RIS process by releasing a discussion paper. This paper outlined policy option ideas and sought your feedback.

We then released a draft RIS seeking feedback on 3 proposed policy options:

• Option 1: maintain the regulatory status quo; this option represents the baseline regulatory framework.
• Option 2: implement a prohibition on live sheep exports from 1 June to 14 September with additional prohibited periods for Qatar and Oman and additional conditions for all shipments from 1 May to 31 October.
• Option 3: implement a revised HSRA model consistent with recommendations of the HSRA Review.

The draft RIS was informed by:

• your feedback on the discussion paper
• information from previous reviews
• analysis of climatological data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology
• voyage and independent observer reports
• environmental data and observations from voyages to the Middle East in 2019 including analysis of May 2019 voyages.

What we did

Our aim was to determine a reasonable regulatory approach that:

• supports animal welfare outcomes
• maintains a viable live sheep export trade.

We considered information sourced during the RIS process, the best available science and evidence, and your feedback, when making final policy recommendations to the Secretary. The RIS identified regulatory conditions that reduce animal welfare risks associated with the export of sheep to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer while maintaining a live sheep export industry.

The new regulatory settings will take effect on 1 May 2020.

Read the final RIS and learn about the new regulatory settings for 2020 onwards.