Saeed bin Mohammed Al Ragabani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, yesterday issued a ministerial decree on the executive regulations of the GCC quarantine system.

The 27-article decree deals with a number of animal-related issues, including definitions, terms, health certificates, animals for slaughtering, contagious diseases and health regulations for imported animals, in addition to punishments for violators of those rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, Al Ragabani received yesterday a delegation from the Bureau of International Agreement for the Protection of Endangered Species.

Al Ragabani reiterated the importance accorded by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to the conservation of environment.

To this effect, he said, natural habitats and protectorates for the preservation of various types of animals and birds have been constructed especially those which are compatible to international agreements for the protection and preservation of endangered species.

The minister said that the UAE was one of the leading countries in the world, which showed great concern for well-being of the wildlife.

He pointed out that the UAE had provided those species with green pastures as dwelling for seasonal migrating birds and falcons, adding that the hubbara birds were preserved and that their hunting was prohibited while they were taken care of in breeding centres.

The centres were constructed for breeding those types of birds and releasing them back to their natural habitat.

Later, the delegation visited the Abu Dhabi customs department and the veterinary quarantine of the sea ports department and the veterinary quarantine of the Abu Dhabi airport cargo section.