FEATURE: Bridging the gap between intent and accepted practice for sustainable trade standards

Australia’s special representative for agriculture, Su McCluskey, has been touring overseas markets promoting Australian agriculture and gathering insights into what those markets are seeking. Su has delivered some confronting messages about the animal welfare practices that European markets will be expecting. Some Australian animal welfare practices such as mulesing are perceived to be barbaric in many of those markets we are striving to access and are a barrier to the acceptance and promotion of Australian agricultural products. Even if pain relief is administered, the practice of mulesing is just not entertained as acceptable.