Tougher rules for livestock import from Somalia

The UAE has set tougher rules for the import of livestock from conflict-battered Somalia following malpractices by traders supplying the country’s lucrative market, the semiofficial daily Alittihad said on Monday.

Shipments of livestock from the East African country must stay in quarantine for at least 21 days at Somali ports before they are shipped to the UAE, where they must not be admitted before test results are released, it said.

“The new rules and conditions follow negative practices in this activity. For example, they sent documents from Somali quarantines showing the shipment included 1,000 heads while we found that it comprised 4,000 heads upon arrival. This means the animals that were vaccinated and those that were not were mixed together,” said Abdullah Aljinaan, Director of Animal Wealth and Agriculture at the Ministry of Environment and Water.

“We fear such practices could result in the entry into the country of livestock that might carry endemic and viral diseases.”

Alittihad cited ministry figures showing Somalia is one of the largest livestock exporters to the UAE along with India and Iran. Imports of sheep, goats and cows exceeded 800,000 heads in the first seven months of the year.

“We are planning to set new health and technical rules for the import of livestock from other suppliers as was the case with Somalia and Australia,” Aljinaan said.

“These rules will save time and funds and traders have just to comply with them to ensure the entry of their shipments as soon as possible. We will reject any shipment that does not meet these conditions.”

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