A veterinary quarantine facility could soon be set up in East Hidd, near Khalifa Bin Salman Port.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Agriculture Under-Secretary Assem Abdullatif told the Northern Municipal Council that a plot in Hidd was being considered to serve as a temporary alternative to the National Veterinary Quarantine Centre in Buri.
“The registration process is underway with the Urban Planning and Development Authority,” he said, adding that discussions were on to identify suitable locations for more border quarantine centres in the future.
Evaluations
Mr Abdullatif confirmed that all relevant technical, administrative and environmental factors were being evaluated to ensure chosen sites meet the necessary veterinary and public health standards.
“While the (Buri) centre continues to meet international standards, we are actively co-ordinating with the Urban Planning and Development Authority to identify suitable alternative sites closer to Bahrain’s entry points,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“Our goal is to ensure that veterinary health protocols are not compromised, while also addressing the concerns of local communities.
“The new proposed location is under technical and administrative assessment, and all relevant government entities are being consulted to ensure full compliance.”
He added that the shift to border facilities would bring Bahrain in line with international best practices, where the first line of defence against animal diseases begins at the country’s entry points, not inland.
Mr Abdullatif
Mr Abdullatif was replying to a proposal to build new veterinary quarantine facilities at Bahrain’s main entry points - the King Fahad Causeway, Khalifa Bin Salman Port and Bahrain International Airport. It was tabled by five MPs, led by Muneer Suroor and backed by the Northern Municipal Council.
The move comes after a prolonged legal dispute over the continued operation of the National Veterinary Quarantine Centre in Buri, a facility now encircled by newly developed housing units.
Municipal leaders from the Northern Governorate, including the area’s councillor and Northern Municipal Council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim, have strongly backed the proposed move, citing the unsuitability of maintaining such a sensitive facility in a now densely populated area like Buri.
“It is not logical or sustainable to have a veterinary quarantine facility in the heart of a residential community, especially one that has grown significantly in recent years,” Ms Jassim pointed out.
Ms Jassim
“We have consistently called for relocating the centre to border entry points, where such operations are best suited.
“This isn’t just about convenience, it’s about health and safety. Performing all screenings and tests at borders ensures early detection of animal diseases and better control over animal imports and exports.
“The people of Buri deserve peace of mind and I will continue to press for a long-term relocation solution.”
The call for change follows a major legal battle that saw the Cassation Court rule in favour of the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, allowing the Buri quarantine centre to remain in place after residents attempted to force its relocation through civil court.
The court had argued that the existing facility complied with technical and regulatory standards.
However, plans for expansion of the Buri centre were shelved after a separate ruling by the Supreme Civil Appeals Court in 2023. That verdict cancelled construction permits for the BD556,789 project, which was originally announced in July 2021 and expected to double the centre’s capacity by 2022.
Nine Buri residents had brought a case against the ministry, citing potential health and environmental risks associated with the project.
Meanwhile, the Northern Municipal Council continues to engage with the ministry and national legislators to push for the gradual closure of the Buri facility and develop modern alternatives that serve both animal health and urban development needs.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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