MORE than 50,000 heads of livestock were imported into Bahrain in addition to thousands of tonnes of meat, in readiness for Eid Al Adha family feasting.
The quantities, which include meat and poultry, were imported from May 15 to June 24, with efforts in full swing to ensure product safety in accordance with regulated public health requirements.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry’s acting assistant undersecretary for animal wealth Dr Ebrahim Yousif said that 50,000 heads of sheep and 300 heads of cows has been initially imported to meet sacrificial demands.
The GDN previously reported that Eid Al Adha will be observed on June 28 and Muslims traditionally slaughter sheep during the three-day holiday in tribute to Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice of a lamb after God, at the last moment, spared Ishmael, his son.
“In addition to 50,300 heads of livestock, 2,600 tonnes of chilled and frozen red meat and 7,500 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry were imported during the period from May 15 to June 24 in preparation for the sacrificial season and the blessed Eid Al Adha,” said Dr Yousif in an official statement.
“The ministry is fully prepared for the season through a plan to cover the licensed slaughterhouses by providing veterinarians to examine the livestock along with experts of licensed slaughterhouses to facilitate and speed up the examination process.
“The Hamala Slaughterhouse and Bahrain Livestock Company Slaughterhouse in Sitra are licensed by the Agriculture and Marine Resources and slaughters take place in them under the supervision of veterinarians.”
Dr Yousif added that there are periodic health and veterinary inspections of the work of slaughterhouses and slaughter operations.
Livestock is checked before and after slaughter and the meat transported to the market is sealed.
“There are 14 veterinarians that work 24-hours a day at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, the Bahrain International Airport and the King Fahad Causeway to monitor the transportation of meat – both red and white – whether it is chilled or frozen,” added Dr Yousif.
“In addition, there is veterinary supervision of sheep and livestock imported from abroad and there is full co-operation and co-ordination with qualified importing merchants who apply requirements in accordance with laws and regulations.
“The ministry regards product safety an absolute and uncompromising priority.”
Dr Yousif attributed the increased demand from traders to import livestock and meat to the diversification of import sources and the licensing of all qualified merchants to import livestock and meat.
He ruled out possible price increases of meat and sacrificial animals during the Eid Al Adha season due to the abundance of imported livestock this year, in addition to the merchants’ early start in importing sheep and cows from abroad.
He added that live sheep were imported from Somalia, Oman and the UAE while frozen meat was imported from several countries including Kenya, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, chilled and frozen poultry products were imported from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China, Ukraine, Turkey and other countries.
reem@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))