Imported red meat faces new standards

Red meat arriving in the UAE has to be approved in advance by the Ministry of Environment and certified in its country of origin.

ABU DHABI // Any red meat arriving in the UAE that has not been approved in advance by the Ministry of Environment and certified in its country of origin will not be allowed in under tough new laws announced yesterday. The Minister of Environment and Water, Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, issued stringent regulations on the import of red meat in an effort to "fulfil food security in the country", the state news agency WAM reported.

The legislation requires exporting countries to have programmes for preventing diseases and for screening animals in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The imported red meat must be from animals that were not fed any kind of animal protein or hormones, and must be accompanied by an official certificate guaranteeing the animals were kept in areas free of disease for at least three months before slaughter, WAM said.

Additional regulations stipulate that the animals must be slaughtered in facilities certified by the UAE and adherent to Islamic regulations of halal meat. Any meat products that violate the regulations will be not be allowed into the country. [e-mail]