The Department of Agriculture has completed a review of AUS-MEAT’s capability to determine whether AUS-MEAT could oversee the installation, inspection, calibration, replacement and quality assurance auditing processes of new Objective Carcase Measurement (OCM) technology, specifically dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technology. The review was undertaken in line with recommendation three of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee’s inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector.
The review concluded that AUS-MEAT has, or would be able to acquire, the skills and capabilities required to undertake some of the overseeing roles associated with the roll-out, inspection, calibration and quality assurance auditing processes of the DEXA technology.
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Summary of Senate Inquiry
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee’s inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector was recommended in 2015 by Senator Bridget McKenzie after the purchase of major meat processor Australian Consolidated Food Holdings Pty Ltd by JBS; and the alleged boycott by red meat processors of the first sale at Barnawatha saleyards, Victoria, on 17 February 2015.
Recommendation 3 of the inquiry stated:
“The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources conduct a review into the operations and capability of AUS-MEAT to determine whether it is the most appropriate body to oversight the installation, inspection, calibration, replacement and quality assurance auditing processes of the new DEXA technology. The review should also identify what reforms and resources AUS-MEAT would require to fulfil this role.”