October 22, 2013

 

Oman to verify poultry slaugther methods in Indian farms before awarding export certification

 

 

Officials from Oman are in India to inspect slaughter and processing methods of poultry there before a decision to award farms with certificates which will permit them to export their products to the sultanate.

 

The Omani delegation composed of officials from the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Muscat Municipality and the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.

 

In a decision in May this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries lifted the import ban on poultry and its products from India but with certain clauses which makes it necessary for an Indian company to get its premises and husbandry procedures verified by Omani officials first.

 

In order to avoid further ban on poultry imports from India, the new measures were taken which lasted about 12 months in a 15-month period before May, due to recurrent outbreak of bird flu in the country.

 

With the new decision, all exporting units in India must follow World Organisation for Animal Health's (OIE) concept of 'zoning and compartmentalisation' for purposes of disease control and international trade.

 

The certificate to export to Oman is subject to field inspection by a technical team from the sultanate to ensure companies honour the conditions stipulated.

The visiting team is being led by Mohammed bin Reda, assistant director-general for health and inspection, MRMWR.

 

The team's week-long programme includes visits to four poultry farms producing eggs in Bengaluru, as well as meeting with the relevant government agencies with regard to export of eggs. They will also visit slaughterhouses and poultry processing units to see that procedures are in line with Islamic slaughter.

 

P V Senthil, secretary of Livestock and Agri Farmers Trade Association, India, said that process laid down by Oman is proactive, and, if adopted by other countries, can benefit all parties.

 

"A team from Oman visited Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, which is the largest egg producing and exporting region in the country, in July and inspected many poultry farms here. Since then, the export of eggs to Oman has reached 40-50 containers per month (472,320 eggs per container). The latest visit by Omani officials will open doors for many other production units," he added.

 

Senthil added that exports from Namakkal saw a big drop last year due to a ban imposed by Oman.  With new procedures in place, the situation is expected to improve.