LAHORE: Egypt has shown interest in importing meat from Pakistan and requested to allow an inspection of Pakistani abattoirs. After inspection, only accredited companies will be allowed to export.
The Egyptian Trade and Industry Ministry has requested the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to invite an Egyptian delegation to Pakistan, told sources here on Saturday. The Egyptian Ministry conveyed its interest through the Pakistani Embassy's Trade and Investment Section in Cairo.
In a letter to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Egyptian trade and investment section forwarded the request of the ministry for an official visit of veterinary delegation for inspection of Pakistani slaughterhouses who are interested in exporting frozen meat products.
Moreover, the Egyptian ministry also asked for coordination between the two countries for developing veterinary protocol in the fields of epidemiological investigation, training programmes, search for epidemic disease and an early warning system. It also requested for developing a protocol for veterinary quarantine and connectivity for exchange of information.
The Egyptian ministry also requested for a joint cooperation in revision of mutual veterinary health certificates for dairy products, frozen poultry meat and fish. Furthermore, it asked for technical cooperation in the field of surveying fish facilities, as defined in the European Union rules, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and auditing programmes.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research directed the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to approach the Pakistani slaughterhouses for hosting the Egyptian delegation.
In a letter to All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processor Association and All Pakistan Livestock and Dairy Association, TDAP requested them to disseminate information among the slaughterhouses/abattoirs about the Egyptian interest in the Pakistani halal meat market. "Moreover, seek their consent on bearing all expenses of the Egyptian officials for visiting their slaughterhouses and share the list with TDAP at the earliest," the letter added.
Commenting on the proposed visit of the Egyptian delegation, All Pakistan Meat Processors and Exporters Association chairman Nasib Ahmad Saifi appreciated it saying that Egypt can be a big market for Pakistan as they are a meat lover nation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020