Import entry point for livestock set up at Maktoum airport

Dubai: To ensure swift entry of sacrificial animals into the UAE ahead of Eid Al Adha, a new temporary livestock terminal has been set up at Al Maktoum International Airport, increasing the total number of livestock entry points in the UAE to 17, said the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) on Tuesday.

Sultan Alwan, assistant undersecretary of the Regions Sector at the ministry, and other staff visited the terminal to make sure its readiness to receive inbound consignments of livestock.

“The ministry has taken a host of measures to facilitate sound and speedy veterinary services at border crossings. In addition to deploying more doctors at veterinary quarantines as well as veterinary lab technicians, and extending working hours to expedite procedures, we have ensured that labs along the borders are well-equipped, and ready to deliver timely test results and fast-track the release of consignments that meet the health requirements,” Alwan said.

“The ministry has also approved multiple quick tests to verify that the animals are clear of certain diseases, and provided all necessary equipment to streamline the handling of consignments. Furthermore, livestock traders can benefit from the ministry’s online and smart services that allow them to request approval for their consignments to enter the local market.”

Livestock traders and importers must obtain a valid practice licence from the ministry to apply for an import permit, and can only import livestock from countries that adhere to the UAE’s veterinary health criteria, the ministry said.

Alwan also stressed the need for consumers to have their sacrificial animals slaughtered in approved abattoirs that are regulated by health controls to maintain the safety of the meat and its by-products.

Sacrificial animals are examined and tested before slaughter to ensure the meat is safe for human consumption. He pointed out that slaughtering animals outside approved abattoirs is against the law in the UAE and poses a great risk to consumers’ health due to the lack of veterinary control.