Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has congratulated Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, for reversing his decision to lift the ban on importing beef from countries affected by mad cow disease, or BSE.

Senator Milne had referred the decision to a Senate inquiry last October, immediately after learning that the ban would be lifted. The scrutiny of the decision from the Senate Inquiry has now led to a moratorium on lifting the ban pending a two year import risk analysis.

"This is a sensible decision which should be welcomed by consumers and beef producers alike," Senator Milne said.

"Minister Burke was clearly concerned that there would be a public outcry against this decision when the beef industry was sworn to secrecy over the decision to lift the ban. He wanted to push a pure trade agenda without any public scrutiny.

"Australian consumers have the right to know if meat on supermarket shelves comes from countries which have been affected by BSE.

"And Australian beef producers have the right to reassurance, through a full and proper import risk analysis, that their reputation for clean produce will not be undermined.

"As a Tasmanian and someone who grew up on a dairy farm, I am always vigilant about standing up for the excellent reputation Australia's food has around the world for being clean and uncontaminated.

"This reputation is critical for both consumers and producers, and I am very pleased that the Senate inquiry I established has helped deliver this sensible decision.

"The next critical step is for Australia to move rapidly to improve our food labelling laws to make sure consumers know what is in the food they buy and how it was produced."