Welfare agreement could see livestock exports to Egypt resume

Australia and Egypt have agreed to new animal welfare arrangements that could allow the resumption of livestock exports within weeks.

The live trade to Egypt has been suspended since footage was broadcast earlier this year showing animals in an Egyptian abattoir that were not being treated to industry standards.

Under agreements signed today, only three Egyptian abattoirs will be authorised to slaughter Australian cattle and the livestock will be tracked from the time they arrive in Egypt.

Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran says the two governments will jointly appoint supervisors to oversee every slaughter at one abattoir.

"It will be a suitably qualified person, it may well be an Egyptian or Australian veterinary surgeon or it might be a person in whom both governments have confidence on the basis of their credibility and experience," he said.