MP calls for increased supervision on meat import

Manam

Jamal Dawood, a member of the committee formed to probe rotten meat issue, has called for strict supervision of the imported meat as well as livestock imported for the purpose of meat. Speaking to DT News, the parliamentarian said that the committee had paid a visit to the cargo section of the Bahrain International Airport, where chilled meat is off-loaded and Sitra slaughter house, where the livestock is slaughtered, in order to study the procedures being followed while handling the meat. “The staff who handle the meat at the cargo section of the airport should be directly supervised by the Ministry of Health. Periodical inspection of the workers should be made mandatory to ensure that they are free of any diseases, since public health is topmost priority of the Kingdom,” he said. In the meantime, he urged the meat importers to improve cleanliness of meat processing areas, opining that the initiative taken by the meat importers to maintain hygiene needs more push. Proper maintenance of the slaughterhouse, daily cleaning and reducing pollution around the area are the need of the hour, he added. The parliamentarian has stressed for more security and monitoring of Sitra slaughterhouse where the livestock is being kept until it is slaughtered. “Even stray dogs enter the slaughterhouse since there is not enough security. This negligence should be considered seriously as meat is an important part of our food,” said Jamal Dawood.The committee was formed after health inspectors found a consignment of imported frozen meat unfit for human consumption in last January. The Directorate of Agriculture and Marine Resources also temporarily suspended the licenses of those meat importer.