Members of Bahrain’s largest municipal council have stressed the importance of tougher inspection and regulation of livestock and carcasses available in the market.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak said carcasses were stamped with special seals, highlighting the date of slaughter and type of animal, by veterinarians in licensed slaughterhouses in Bahrain.
He was responding to a previously approved proposal by the Northern Municipal Council in May requesting official ‘seals of approval’ to be stamped on carcasses in a bid to reassure consumers in Bahrain of their quality and freshness.
Mr Al Mubarak, in his written response to the council, also added that stamping imported carcasses was among the conditions implemented to ensure food safety.
However, councillor Abdullah Al Qubaisi alleged that reality on the ground was totally different.
“Claims that there are veterinarians at these facilities to stamp the carcasses round the clock aren’t true as the livestock is stamped only upon request by owners,” he claimed.
“We had visited one of the official slaughterhouses where workers told us that stamps were provided upon request. With all due respect to the minister, we have to say that the reality on the ground is different and half of the carcasses on the market are from an anonymous source.
“We shouldn’t wait for a public health disaster to happen before taking action.”
Northern Municipality director general Lamya Al Fadhala reaffirmed that Bahrain won global recognition for achievements in public health and said comprehensive regulations and mechanisms were in place to ensure food safety.
She added that complaints received by the authorities were investigated thoroughly.
“The government considers public health – for citizens and residents – as a top priority and no efforts are spared to provide the best services,” said Ms Al Fadhala.
“There is a multi-faceted mechanism in place in co-ordination with several authorities to ensure the proper implementation of regulations and procedures.”
She added that ‘individual behaviours don’t represent the majority’ and that violators are punished.
Northern Municipal Council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim reiterated the need for a tough crackdown on those who flout the law.
“We have conducted several inspections at livestock farms and illegal slaughterhouses and we have seen violations with our own eyes,” she said.
“The official licensed slaughterhouses are also facing challenges as veterinary doctors assigned to check livestock work regular hours and aren’t available round the clock. We have created a comprehensive report which will be passed on to the authorities concerned.”
There are two registered abattoirs in the country – one in Sitra and the other in Hamala – with more than 1,000 unregistered locations, such as gardens and homes, in which livestock is being reared and, at times, slaughtered.
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