Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, was also consulted. In summary, Professor Mathews concluded that there was a theoretical and negligible risk to human health.

I did table this at the hearing today—the Australian Red Cross Blood Service has put out a press release. It is also satisfied that the change in policy will not impact on Australia’s blood supply. In a media release the Red Cross has rejected claims that blood donations could be hindered by the government’s decision to allow imports of beef from countries previously affected by mad cow disease. This policy change does not mean that we will open the floodgates—far from it—to beef imports from any country wishing to export their beef to Australia. Under this new policy, beef from other countries must still meet country-by-country science based risk assessment processes. This includes, as necessary, in-country inspections to verify other countries’ risk mitigation systems.