Australia has announced it would soon lift a ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia and resume trade with additional safeguards in place to address animal cruelty concerns.

With this new development, the earlier suspension of six months will no longer be followed, the Agriculture Ministry of Australia said.

On late Wednesday Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said an agreement had been reached with Indonesia to address the welfare concerns which first saw trade frozen a month ago and exporters could now apply for permits to resume shipments, Agence France Press reports.

"I am able to announce this tonight because key conditions for resumption have been met," Mr Ludwig said.

Farmers would have to apply for export licences requiring that international standards of animal welfare be met and Indonesia had also indicated it was prepared to issue similar permits for importers, Mr Ludwig said.

"The exporter is required to trace the animals from the domestic supply chain into the feedlot, from the feedlot into the abattoir," he explained of the new permits required of Australia's exporters of live cattle.

"The abattoir will be independently audited," he added. (More updates)