RUSSIA may once again be a kangaroo-eating world power if negotiations between AgForce and the Russian Embassy are realised.
The kangaroo meat industry is set to meet the high domestic and export standards set by the Australian beef and sheepmeat industry.
AgForce Sheep and Wool president Brent Finlay said Australia has sustainable beef and sheepmeat industries which meet the highest domestic and export standards, and customers should expect no different from the kangaroo industry.
"The problem with the kangaroo industry has been with moving the carcases," he said.
"The issue is getting the roo from wild harvest to chiller boxes to processing plants."
The ban on the importation of kangaroo meat to Russia from Australia took effect on August 1 because of a meat contamination risk.
Currently, the Australian kangaroo meat industry is doing all it can to assure Russia that kangaroo meat is 100 percent safe.
"Hopefully the kangaroo industry will bring its standard up," Mr Finlay said.
Macro Meats Australia managing director and Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia secretary, Ray Borda, said he is confident the industry can raise the bar.
"The industry is working on reducing the days between point of kill and point of processing," Mr Borda said.
Currently the process involves harvesting including bleeding and gutting a kangaroo, transportation of the carcase to a refrigerated storage area known as the box, and then a final movement to a processing plant.
Processing plants are located across Australia.
"Much of our meat is sourced from north-western Queensland," Mr Borda said.
"We have plants in South Australia and NSW but we are looking to expand to Queensland.
"We're working between 10 to 14 days from point of kill."
With 20 years' experience in the wild harvest kangaroo meat industry, Mr Borda has a long association with quality assurance.
"None of this would have occurred if we knew what the Russians wanted," he said.
"We live in a different society now - we live in a modern world."
Mr Borda identified similar product integrity concerns to the beef and sheepmeat industries.
To obtain better meat, quality field harvesters will need more training in the areas of bleeding procedures, general hygiene and better gutting techniques, according to Mr Borda.
Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia CEO John Kelly said the industry acts in accordance to guidelines.
"The industry has complied and will comply," Mr Kelly said.
He also identified required industry improvements as suggested by Russia.
"Principally, we need to deal with temperature change through the process," he said.
These changes are imminent, as Anna Bligh this week announced she expected the industry would meet Russia's expectations and have the ban lifted by next year.
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