An extension to the ban on live sheep exports to the Middle East has been enacted the same day animal cruelty charges were laid against the company involved in controversial footage that prompted public outrage and regulatory change.

Key points: The northern hemisphere summer live export trade halt is now due to recommence on September 22

The northern hemisphere summer live export trade halt is now due to recommence on September 22 The Agriculture Department ruled the risk of heat stress in the first three weeks of September was comparable to, or higher, than June, which was deemed too hot

The Agriculture Department ruled the risk of heat stress in the first three weeks of September was comparable to, or higher, than June, which was deemed too hot The delay came the same day as WA's DPIRD charged an exporter and former directors under the state's Animal Welfare Act

Sorry, this audio has expired Australian live sheep export ban to be extended till end of Sept

The live export industry is disappointed by a three-week extension of the northern summer trade halt which, until yesterday, was set to resume on September 1.

The live export trade halt is now due to recommence on September 22.

The industry has also voiced its support for the Perth-based exporter Emanuel Exports which has been charged with alleged animal cruelty relating to the death of 2,400 sheep on a voyage in 2017.

Both developments have been welcomed by RSPCA, however, the organisation will continue to pursue a complete cessation of live sheep exports to the Middle East.

Charges against exporter

Following an 18-month investigation by WA's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Emanuel Exports and two of its former directors were yesterday charged with alleged cruelty to animals under the state's Animal Welfare Act.

DPIRD said the charges related to the alleged harm caused or likely to be caused to sheep due to heat stress aboard the Awassi Express.

A total of 2,400 sheep died throughout the voyage from Fremantle to the Middle East in August 2017.

The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development laid charges against Emanuel Exports for alleged animal cruelty. ( Supplied: Channel Nine, file photo )

The legal action comes days after the conclusion of a Federal Government investigation which found no evidence the controversial footage of the voyage, obtained by Animals Australia, was fabricated.

The matter will be heard in court at a later date.

In a statement, the managing director of Emanuel Exports, Nicholas Daws, said the company intended to vigorously defend the matter.

Animals Australia declined to comment and pointed toward RSPCA's statements.

The move to prosecute the company has been welcomed by RSPCA senior policy officer Jed Goodfellow.

"It is a very welcome development to see regulators — at the state level in this instance — taking this matter extremely seriously," he said.

Protesters rally in Fremantle ahead of a live export vessel's journey to the Middle East carrying more than 60,000 live sheep. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

"We still have the problem of having deficient standards governing live animal exports, particularly for sheep exports to the Middle East.

"The RSPCA can't see any way in which the trade be done in a humane way that respects basic animal welfare standards."

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The largest exports: 900,000 cattle and 1.8 million sheep per year Where Australia exports: Nearly 20 countries around the globe including Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Israel, the Middle East, north Africa and Europe

Where Australia exports: Nearly 20 countries around the globe including Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Israel, the Middle East, north Africa and Europe Why export live animals? Religious, cultural, demand for freshness, and high processing costs in Australia

Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton said the organisation would support Emanuel Exports through this judicial process.

"We will never walk away from the Awassi. What happened there was simply not good enough," he said.

"But nonetheless, we have changed, and we will be offering our support to Emanuel Exports through that process."

Summer ban extended

Yesterday the Federal Department of Agriculture announced it would extend a three-month ban on live sheep exports to the Middle East by three weeks.

The ban began at the start of June and was set to end on September 1, but it will now extend to September 22.

In a statement, the Federal Department of Agriculture said it considered the best available science and evidence, and feedback from public consultation, before making the decision.

"Evidence indicates the risk of heat stress for voyages departing Australia in the first three weeks of September is comparable to, or higher than in June," the statement said.

"The department determined conditions in June are too hot for sheep exports.

A three-month ban on live sheep exports during the northern hemisphere summer will be extended because of heightened heat stress risk. ( ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch )

"Furthermore, sheep departing Australia in early to mid-September are acclimatised to cooler Australian temperatures and therefore less heat tolerant."

The extension to the northern summer ban applies to this year only.

Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said there would be further reviews of scientific evidence and regulation through a Regulation Impact Statement process.

ALEC's Mr Harvey-Sutton said reduced stocking density on voyages in periods preceding the ban have had outstanding outcomes and, in some cases, record-low mortality rates.

"We would have preferred to have been sailing a little bit earlier," he said.

"We put forward a proposal where shipments to the Red Sea would be taking place from September 1 and shipments to the Gulf States would be taking place from September 15," he said.

Mr Harvey-Sutton said the regulatory uncertainty was beginning to affect the industry's reputation in receiving markets for live sheep.

RSPCA's Dr Goodfellow said exports to the Middle East during September and October were arguably more dangerous than those occurring at the start of the northern summer period.

"The science has shown that live sheep exported into the northern summer, at any time during the hottest period from May to October are at very high risk of suffering from heat stress, which can be fatal," he said.

"This week's decision is another step towards ensuring that Australian sheep are protected from searing conditions onboard these ships."

'Eroding' the industry

Mike Gordon, the general manager of livestock exporting company Rural Export and Trading WA (RETWA), said the Department of Agriculture's decision to extend the moratorium on the trade to the Middle East is another sign the industry is being eroded by regulation.

"This has put our importers in a difficult position and I spoke with them and they're very disappointed and upset by the constant creep we're getting from the regulators. These sorts of moves can't go on," he said.

"We need some certainty as to what is expected of exporters into the future because it's a very difficult ball to juggle at the moment. We don't know what's coming next."

The decision has also created economic uncertainty for some of WA's sheep producers.

WA sheep producer Peter Boyle says the extension to the trade ban has put further pressure on farmers facing feed shortages. ( ABC News: Bridget Fitzgerald )

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Peter Boyle has about 5,500 sheep on his property at York, about 100 kilometres east of Perth.

He said the extension had complicated his plans to sell about half of his sheep to the exporters at the start of September.

"We're fully stocked at the moment and we thought we were going to be able to buy a few more so we bought some yesterday," he said.

"Now we're going to have to carry our existing [stock] for another three weeks, and it puts pressure on our feed.

"Feed is exceptionally short everywhere and people having to carry their sheep for another three weeks is going to mean they’ll have less summer feed. It's going to put pressure on everybody."

Senator McKenzie recently introduced a bill to formalise the position of an independent inspector-general of live animal exports to provide an additional layer of accountability and oversight over the regulation of Australia's livestock exports.

She said Australians and the industry needed to have confidence in the regulator.