➡️ BAHRAIN is expected to face a subsidised meat shortage in the coming days due to a ban on chilled imports. Meanwhile, the countrys main abattoir and livestock importer says it could close down next month due to demands being placed on it. It means the country risks a potential meat crisis in which chicken would be the only meat subsidised by the government available in the market. On Tuesday, the Agriculture and Marine Resources Directorate ordered a halt to all chilled meat imports by Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC), after several consignments were found to be spoilt. Today is the last day that the company can accept shipments ordered before the ban was imposed. Beef in particular will be in short supply from tomorrow since BLC, the countrys only importer of government-subsidised meat, does not ship in live cows. Subsidised lamb and mutton will be available but in limited quantities, as the market will only be supplied with fresh meat from animals slaughtered in Bahrain. Imports of non-subsidised chilled meat will not be affected. The GDN previously reported that chilled subsidised meat equivalent to between 2,000 and 2,500 heads of livestock, including both mutton and beef, arrived in Bahrain on a daily basis - in addition to the 1,500 sheep slaughtered here daily. However, the ban on chilled imports means subsidised meat supplies could more than halve in the coming days. The company used to rely on importing beef by air and has no livestock at present, the company said in a statement yesterday. There will be no beef available in the market in the coming days. BLC has now informed 25 suppliers in Pakistan, Sudan and Australia to cease all exports of chilled meat to Bahrain. Remaining chilled meat stocks currently at BLC will be allowed onto the market this weekend, but after that supplies of government-subsidised meat are expected to be limited. However, BLC says it could be forced to shut down its operations altogether on February 15 because it was yet to comply with six of 40 conditions imposed on it by the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry. It claimed it had managed to meet 34 of the conditions, which it only said related to maintenance of the abattoir, but was seeking approval for plans to comply with the remaining six by the February 15 deadline. More than 40 remarks by official authorities have been implemented for the maintenance of the central abattoir in Sitra, it said in the statement. Just six are pending final approval from a joint technical committee, based on maps and engineering details submitted by the company. The statement said the BLC was prepared to pay for the maintenance, but claimed equipment was required from overseas in addition to necessary construction licences - which were yet to be sanctioned. Since February 15 has been given as the last date for repairs to be complete, BLC has no other option but to shut down its abattoir and all the 21,000 remaining sheep will be slaughtered by that date, it added. Provided authorities extend the deadline to continue maintenance work, the abattoir will continue business as usual providing live sheep are available for slaughter. Five BLC employees, including two managers, are currently facing criminal charges in connection with the spoilt meat shipments. Bahrain has a limited meat supply and it is the combination of both fresh and chilled meat that is needed to supply market demand, well-placed sources told the GDN. Precautions They added that no money had been lost as a result of the tainted meat shipments because they were insured. The meat never reached the market and no money is lost because it is all insured, they explained. They also suggested the fact that the tainted meat was discovered during inspection illustrated that proper precautions were being followed before it was allowed onto the market. Actually it shows that they care, not the other way, said sources. But this action to stop importing chilled meat will affect the people of Bahrain. If they are not allowed to order chilled meat, there will be a shortage.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 07:13:41 +0000
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