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Online sale of sacrificial animals illegal in UAE: Ministry

"Buying sacrificial animals through social networking sites does not guarantee consumers their rights."

Trading sacrificial animals on social media is illegal as it involves unlicensed dealers who may cheat consumers, according to the Ministry of Economy.

Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the consumer protection department at the ministry, warned that selling of animals through social media is not allowed in the country because unlicensed animal traders take advantage of people who are reluctant to visit the livestock markets and cheat them through showing them pictures of fat animals online, but sending them different animals.

"It is illegal to trade livestock on social media. This is because in most cases such online businesses are operated by unlicensed people who don't issue official invoices to buyers, which is against the law," said Al Nuaimi.

"Buying sacrificial animals through social networking sites does not guarantee consumers their rights. If they get cheated or defrauded, it will not be possible to take action against the sellers."

Al Nuaimi said the ministry had received several complaints from consumers over the recent years after they got cheated by online livestock dealers who showed them pictures of fat goats and delivered them animals which were different from their order, despite paying the sellers huge sums.

The officials said it is good if people visit the livestock markets across the country and get the animals of their choice.

"People should check the sacrificial animals very well to ensure that they meet the specified conditions before making payments. Customers must also ensure that traders give invoices," said Al Nuaimi.

He also urged people to make use of the municipal abattoirs for slaughtering sacrificial animals during the Eid and warned that besides being illegal, the slaughtering of animals at home involves heath risks.

The ministry has warned livestock traders against selling animals outside the licensed livestock markets and urged them to stick to the official prices and to also issue invoices to customers.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com