JEDDAH, 12 July — Sudan expects the Kingdom to lift a 10-month ban on meat imports from the country imposed following the outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever in southern Saudi Arabia.
Sudan used to export one million heads of sheep a month to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states before the ban, which exporters say caused them losses worth millions of dollars. Large quantities of frozen meat also arrived in the Kingdom before the ban, which first covered livestock but was later extended to include meat shipments.
Sudanese Minister of Animal Resources Dr. Riyak Guy said other Gulf and Arab countries have lifted the ban on livestock imports from Sudan and the Kingdom is expected to follow suit.
An official Saudi delegation is expected in Khartoum over the coming days to discuss the issue with Sudanese officials and exporters, Al-Rai Alam newspaper yesterday quoted the minister as saying. The delegation, also comprising veterinarians, will examine precautions taken locally to protect livestock from diseases are up to the standard.
“We are in continuous discussions with the Saudi authorities to expedite lifting of the ban now that Sudan was given a clean bill by international epidemic monitoring organizations,” the minister said. He added that a collective decision by the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council on lifting of the ban was expected soon. Some GCC states including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar have already lifted the ban and resumed shipments of Sudanese livestock and meat consignments.
The ban imposed by the Kingdom also covered imports from countries such as Yemen, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea in addition to the Red Sea islands of Dahak Islands.
The chairman of the Sudanese Chamber of Livestock Exporters, Siddiq Haydoub, said their losses from the ban could exceed $200 million figure. He said exporters already missed two high seasons in the Kingdom, the holy fasting month of Ramadan and the annual Haj, when meat consumption is usually high. (AWB)
