RI has more than enough beef for now: Trade Ministry

The Trade Ministry has eased concerns over a potential shortage of beef in Indonesia following the recent announcement by Australian authorities of a complete ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia, after gruesome TV footage revealed cruel treatment of animals at slaughterhouses in Indonesia.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Wednesday that the ban, causing hundreds of millions of Australian dollars of damage to the industry, was “temporary”, which meant trade would resume only when the proper treatment animals had been assured.

“For now there’s no need to be worried about a beef shortage in the lead up to the fasting month, Idul Fitri [...] Concerns are unnecessary because the domestic stocks will be more than enough,” Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said at the Coordinating Economic Ministry in Jakarta.

“There’s no threat of price volatility. We have enough [cattle],” she added.

Live Australian cattle account for up to 40 percent of Indonesia's beef consumption, while Indonesia buys 60 percent of Australia's live cattle exports, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said the ban would support Indonesia's efforts to be self-sufficient, particularly in beef.

“First, we need to support self-sufficiency in beef. The Agriculture Ministry needs to work seriously on this. Second, we need to introspect if things do not go accordingly,” Hatta added.

According to Mari, a plan to improve animal welfare at abattoirs was already in place, and that the Australian ban would push the Agriculture Ministry to intensify a resolution to the plan.

Hatta and Mari both emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia, and recommended an intensification of discussion on the matter.