Suspension of the export of live cattle to Indonesia

Statement from Ken Warriner, CPC 17 June 2011

The welfare of our cattle is of paramount importance to CPC and its people. It has always been a priority and we have worked continually to improve and promote the standards of animal welfare in both Australia and Indonesia.

We were horrified by the mistreatment of cattle shown in the ABC Four Corners documentary. The programme showed scenes of gratuitous violence that are completely unacceptable and have no part in respectful halal slaughtering practices. We were unaware that such activities were taking place in any of the abattoirs that our cattle are sold to. We do not believe that these acts of violence and cruelty are representative of practices in the majority of Indonesian abattoirs.

Working with our Indonesian joint venture partners, we have committed from 1 June to ensure that all CPC cattle exported in future, and those currently in Indonesian feedlots, will only be sold to customers who use abattoirs where stunning is enforced and where we are entirely satisfied that appropriate and humane processes are in place.

We wholeheartedly support all steps designed to eliminate the inhumane and cruel treatment of animals. We are working closely with the Australian and Indonesian Governments and with our joint venture partners in Indonesia to ensure acceptable standards of animal welfare are in place in this important market.