Dr. Abdullah bin Muhammad Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, discussed increasing the number of livestock import markets and the volume of incoming shipments to the country, and transforming the UAE into a center for re-exporting livestock to the region.
This came during a field tour of His Excellency today at the “Al-Dara” border crossing in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, accompanied by His Excellency Sultan Alwan, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry, and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jamali, Director of the Northern Region at the Ministry, during which His Excellency inspected the work capacity and absorption of veterinary testing laboratories and quarantine facilities at the port, and the extent of Efficiency and readiness of the staff working in the center.
During the tour, His Excellency discussed with officials of the federal and local authorities at the port, the possibility of enhancing the capacity to absorb the increase in the volume of incoming dispatches, the flexibility of the processes of providing inspection services and the release of consignments, the mechanisms followed, and the time period that takes place.
His Excellency Dr. Bhaleef Al-Nuaimi said that the ministry, in its future strategy, aims to enhance food security and raise local self-sufficiency rates according to the highest safety and security standards. It also aims to enhance the country’s competitiveness and develop the economic aspect of livestock import operations by transforming the UAE into the most important center for import and re-export of livestock / sheep. Cows, camels / in the area.
He pointed out that achieving this strategic goal requires, at the outset, the ability of the state outlets to accommodate the volume of incoming dispatches, which will be increased by increasing the number of import markets and doubling the volume of consignments, and the readiness of the examination laboratories attached to the ports and the ability of the staff working in them to provide services with high efficiency in a period of time.
In addition, the total number of livestock that were imported for domestic market consumption for the purpose of slaughter during the first half of this year exceeded 461,228 heads, and the number of markets from which imports are actually made is 24 countries around the world.
His Excellency’s tour included visiting the fishermen’s port in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and meeting with a number of Emirati citizens working in this field, to see the port’s level and the extent of its readiness to ensure the provision of the best services at the highest level of quality and efficiency to the fishing sector.
Within the framework of the Ministry’s goal to strengthen the work mechanisms of food inspection laboratories at the state level, His Excellency Dr. Belhaif Al-Nuaimi visited, as part of his tour, the Food Control Laboratory of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, and met His Excellency Munther bin Shukr, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, and discussed ways to enhance future cooperation to ensure the achievement of the highest standards Food Safety.
During the visit, His Excellency inspected the laboratory’s work mechanisms and the efficiency and quality of inspection and control procedures that ensure achieving the highest standards of food safety circulating in the local market.
The tour comes within a series of field visits that His Excellency undertakes with the Ministry’s work team with the aim of strengthening work mechanisms, ensuring flexibility in providing services, and working to achieve the strategic objectives of the Ministry, in which achieving food security, safety, and sustainability is the most important axis.