Traders put animal health at risk

Cattle, fruit and vegetables are being transported around Dubai in pickup trucks in the scorching heat raising concerns about animal welfare and health and safety.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has said animals should not be exposed for hours to the hot sun.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries did not comment on the matter, and referred Gulf News to the General Secretariat of Municipalities (GSM).

A senior GSM official said the practice was unacceptable. He said a legally binding decision had been issued to all municipalities last year about the issue.

"Domestic animals should not be exposed to the sun. They should be protected from bad weather conditions and should have cool air around them."

He said the decision was "about the animal's welfare while being transported."

The official said some owners of abattoirs and farms did not follow the order.

"I don't think every trader knows the rules."

At Dubai Municipality, a senior veterinarian said he was not sure whether the GSM decision had been approved and circulated. He said the draft he saw made no reference to providing shade to animals on short trips.

"Domestic animals are adapted to these temperatures, especially Australian and Somali sheep. They don't need air-conditioning. Generally, they can go for 9 to 12 hours exposed to the sun."

He said it was "preferable for animal welfare" to provide shade but said most animals were only transported for short distances in Dubai. "There's no chance of dehydration."

The veterinarian said companies were not required to have a municipal licence to transport animals in the city, something he hoped would change.

"It's important for animal welfare." He said Dubai Municipality was drafting its own regulations to ensure more detail on transporting animals within the emirate.

He said the draft would be ready by the end of the year.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has asked countries to ensure animals are protected from the sun during transportation.

In a 2001 report, it said vehicles used to transport animals intended for slaughter had to "provide protection from the sun and rain."

The practice of transporting perishable items, including fruit and vegetables, from the Al Awir Fruit and Vegetable Market to different parts of Dubai and other emirates is also very common despite the fact Dubai Municipality's rules do not allow this.

Khalid Al Sharif, Assistant Director of the Public Health Department and Head of the Food Control Section, said that all perishable items including fruit, vegetables, sweets, frozen meat and chicken, sandwiches, eggs, cakes and similar food items should be transported in refrigerated vehicles.

"It is not acceptable and the Municipality is taking certain measures to ensure that traders should use proper vehicles to transport such items," he added.