The transporter and feedlot operator plus exporter are also accountable but they are never held to account.
The principle behind ASEL is that each section of the live export chain is ‘covered’ by a Federal Regulation.  But the problem is that the Federal Regulations are not enforced nor are the exporters required to show they can and do, actively meet those Regulations.
The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service is responsible for the administration and enforcement of ASEL but they believe that their responsibilities do not include animal welfare. They prefer to leave that to State authorities.  Please see: http://animals-angels.org.au/cms/index.php/animal-welfare-australia for more detailed information on how the ‘animal welfare’ system fails animals in Australia.

ASEL requires that suitably qualified and independent inspectors must be present to inspect when:

• Animals are unloaded at the feedlot. It is extremely unlikely that an industry loathed to spend money will employ vets to inspect every head of sheep or cattle especially as thousands of animals are in the feedlot at the one time.

• Animals should be inspected by AQIS to ensure the animals comply with the health requirements of the export standards. However the ASEL does not require that AQIS inspect every animal.  Additionally they inspect for the health not welfare of the animals.
• 
  Question: How can one vet inspect 80,000 + animals at one feedlot?
  Answer: He cannot; AQIS vets must accept the word of the exporter and third party vet employed by the exporter. Also see the Countryman Newspaper Article - Port vet numbers cut.

• ALL animals must be inspected at loading to ensure the transport phase of the ‘export chain’ complies with the new standards. Of course this is not done by any authority. AQIS attend the Ports intermittently if at all. The Federal Govt has not committed the man power or the money for this exercise…that is why we see sheep’s legs sticking out of the sides of trucks, heads jammed between rails, dead and dying on trucks.. and that is on the way to the port!  The industry pay contractors to check sheep as they run passed them on their way to the ships loading ramp.

• There should be an independent inspector at the port monitoring the arrival of  EVERY truck to ensure the welfare of the animals is paramount. This does not occur. From July 2009 to June 2011, there has not been ONE inspection at the Port of Fremantle by an Animal Welfare Law Enforcement Agency. There has never been an inspection by a state law enforcement agency at any other port in WA. Live Export Shame believes the Industry sees MONEY as paramount, not the welfare of the animals. Welfare costs and this industry HATE to spend.

• It is a requirement that drivers check every animal on their truck upon arrival at the port. According to sources this rarely occurs. Downer or compromised animals may be trampled, smothered or severely injured and remain that way for hours.

 
These new standards also try to reassure the reader that every step has been taken to ensure animal health and well being is paramount.
These standards stand alone. They have no support by way of policing at any point in the export chain.  The industry is entirely self regulating…just as before. Only now AQIS are minimally involved but they don’t have the manpower… the standards are basically toilet paper.
Also the exact number of deaths of animals is suspect considering they are industry supplied figures.  Who keeps records of how many animals die during the local transport cycle?  No one; because there is no central registry within each state or in Australia

The New Export Standards

PDF: Download here