Inspections on livestock at borders intensified

Abdel Rahim Mohammed Al Hammadi, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water (Moew), has visited the Mazyad and Khatam Al Shukla border posts to inspect the procedures carried out at the border crossings upon the entry of animal and agricultural consignments to the country.
The move is in line with the ministry's keenness to provide safe live animals to meet the local market's livestock needs for the season of sacrificing animals. The visit aims to achieve the strategic objectives of promoting food safety and sustainability of domestic production and prevent agricultural pests and infectious animal diseases.
The undersecretary confirmed that Moew is keen to overcome obstacles involving the import of live animals and various animal products as part of its efforts to contribute towards achieving food security to meet domestic demand. He pointed out that the Mazyad and Khatam Al Shukla areas are two of the UAE's major border posts where the ministry is continuously working to ensure smooth flow of imports and exports of animal and agricultural consignments. In addition, it is also aiming to simplify procedures to contribute to the diversification of live animal import sources especially in high-demand seasons.
Al Hammadi added that Moew has provided human and material resources to raise the efficiency of work in the quarries. It has also designated qualified veterinarians and agricultural engineers at the border along with supporting technical systems such as Laboratory Information Management Systems to establish electronic connections between border posts and central laboratories to speed up the process of obtaining laboratory test results and shorten the time of service provision. In addition, it has facilitated more flexible delivery of services to meet the expected increase in the number of animals during the festive season of Eid Al Adha.
Al Hammadi said the ministry is working to monitor and follow up on the global health and veterinary situation with the World Organisation for Animal Health. It is also following up on developments in the spread or emergence of any hotbeds of sick animals in the world to impose or lift bans on the import of animals accordingly. It only allows imports from countries free of epidemic and infectious diseases and those that strictly comply with international standards for animal health and veterinary quarantine measures. - Wam