UAE advances plans to export camel milk

DUBAI // The UAE intends to start exporting camel milk next year after submitting successful quality and safety plans to the EU's committee for registration of non-members. Safety and quality tests have been conducted and the milk has been branded as "good" and falls in line with health and food standards applied in the European Union. "The UAE is intending to export camel milk to European markets next year, to be among the first suppliers of this product to the EU," Abdullah Al Janan, the Executive Director for Agricultural and Animal Affairs Department in the Ministry of Environment and Water, told the Arabic daily Al Ittihad. "We have received a letter of approval from the EU on the UAE plan on safety and quality of camel milk," he added. "As of the current month, 10 analyses and tests on camel milk will be conducted every month (120 tests per year) and their findings will be sent to the EU to match them with its export regimes, said Mr al Janan, who also chairs the National Food Safety Committee. The tests will be conducted in cooperation with the laboratory of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and Dubai Municipality's Central Laboratory. "The UAE file on safety and quality of camel milk will be submitted to the EU's committee for registration of non-members products which will be visiting the UAE next year to announce the results," Mr al Janan said. * WAM