Australia to change the definition of lamb

The Australian Government has announced it will change the definition of lamb in export legislation so it is in line with New Zealand’s and the new AUS-MEAT definition.

Teeth were at the forefront of this issue, as Australian lamb has previously been classified as the less lucrative hogget or mutton as soon as incisor teeth were visible, while NZ lamb with two teeth were still considered to be lamb.

This amendment will enable young sheep under 12 months of age or which do not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear to be called lamb.

The issue of the Australian definition had been debated for decades, and Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said the time for talk was over. He described it as “a simple common-sense change” that will remove the unfair advantage NZ producers have over Australian farmers.

“This will mean our growers can sell more lambs towards the end of the growing season and expand their lamb export opportunities,” Littleproud said.

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) Independent Chair Chris Mirams agreed, stating: “The new definition will even the playing field with New Zealand in our export markets and provide producers with an indicator before they incur the ‘price cliff face’ of lamb being downgraded to hogget or mutton.” SPA is one of several members of the Australian Meat Industry Language and Standards Committee that endorsed the change to the lamb and ovine definitions in the AUS-MEAT language.

As well as benefiting Australian farmers, it should not have any discernible difference in eating quality for consumers, according to research by Meat and Livestock Australia.

The change will require amendment to the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Orders 2005 to change the definition of what constitutes lamb.

Mirams said SPA continues to work on an implementation plan for the change in definition and anticipates the new definition will be in place in mid-2019. “The change was never going to be as simple as announcing it and it taking effect. There are a number of steps, including changing legislation, which need to occur,” he said.

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