September 1, 2006

 

India bans bone-in meat export
 

 

India's government has banned exports of meat with bone, following concerns from importing countries about potential health hazards.

 

Bone-in meat constitutes nearly one-fifth of India's total meat exports.

 

The decision was taken last week after suggestions given by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), the ministries of food processing industries, agriculture and commerce.

 

The bone-in meat may degenerate by the time the consignment reaches its destination, thus posing a health hazard. To prevent such products from hurting the industry's reputation, India has taken a pre-emptive step in implementing this measure, director general of foreign trade KT Chacko said.

 

One benefit of the ban is that it would result in more people being employed to process the meat, he added.

 

However, All-India meat and livestock exporters association member Parvez Qureshi said the ban would hit the industry hard at a time it is growing strongly.

 

India's meat exports went up nearly 40 percent to Rs 2,647.49 crore (US$560 million) in Mar 2006 from Rs 1900 crore (US$409 million) in Apr 2005.

 

Calling the decision a step back for the industry, the association has asked the government to reconsider the decision.

 

Banning every kind of bone-in meat would affect the industry negatively, especially since there is no case of

foot-and-mouth or mad cow case in India, he said. This is especially so as Saudi Arabia has just lifted a ban on buffalo meat import from India two years ago, a move welcomed by the industry.

 

Major destinations for India's meat exports are Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and UAE.