Red meat imports into Bahrain reach 98mln kilogrammes

More than 98 million kilogrammes of red meat were imported into Bahrain last year, it was revealed.

The Animal Resource Agency, which operates under the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, also examined 133,258 livestock imported into the kingdom throughout 2019.

Animal Resource Agency Under-Secretary Dr Khalid Ahmed also said that along with 98,634,167kg of red meat a total of 60,866,935kg of poultry was also imported last year.

“Licences to import 4,330 cows, 117,701 sheep, 10,632 goats and 595 camels were issued last year,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“The Quarantine and Veterinary Monitoring Department is the first line of defence protecting human and animal health from animal and zoonotic diseases by applying health regulations and quarantine control measures on shipments of animals, live birds, meat and other products imported and exported.

“The agency conducts physical and laboratory tests on the quarantined consignments to ensure they are free of diseases at the agency’s laboratories, which are equipped with various modern technologies.”

Dr Ahmed also stressed the critical role played by the department in preserving livestock and preventing the risk of cross-border diseases that might spread through importing.

“The department spares no effort in insuring and monitoring the meat by depending on accredited slaughterhouses and factories adhering to a set of health standards,” he added.

“We are also in charge of issuing licenses for the import of animal feed and hatchery eggs along with other products that play a part in moving the animal production wheel in Bahrain.”

He added that the department was working in close collaboration with local partners such as the Health Ministry, Customs, and Supreme Council for Environment to facilitate the process of importing and exporting livestock according to local and regional laws and in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health.

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