RIYADH, 12 July 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday lifted a three-year ban on meat imports from Argentina, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“The Ministry of Commerce and Industry decided to lift a ban on imports of all kinds of beef and lamb products from Argentina,” it said. The Kingdom had imposed a ban on all meat imports from the South American country in March 2001 due to the spread of foot and mouth disease there, but says it is satisfied that Argentine beef and lamb are now safe. Yesterday’s decision was “in accordance with the two countries’ desire to improve trade relations,” SPA said.
Argentine Ambassador Luis Mendiola told Arab News this was a major breakthrough in the Saudi-Argentinian trade relations. “The lifting of the ban will pave the way for the private sector of both the countries to arrange for the import of meat from Argentina,” he said.
Mendiola added Argentine meat is exported to more than 60 countries. He said the FMD outbreak in the country was brought under control “within weeks of its discovery.”
