SFDA to allow import of non-infected animal innards

JEDDAH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) recently announced they would allow the import of animal innards including cow, buffalo, sheep, lamb, deer and Bactrian camels, from countries and regions free of foot-and-mouth disease, either immunized or not, according to a number of conditions.
According to a statement by SFDA published in local media in the country, the decision to allow the innards of animals came after the approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on condition that the imports be shipped into the Kingdom in separate containers from the other kinds of meats, and after authorities have briefings on the requirements governing the importation of innards from the countries previously infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
SFDA also conditioned that a veterinary certificate be attached with the shipment issued by the competent authorities stating that the animal innards come from animals raised in countries free of FMD since birth.
The requirements also include that the innards come from animals slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses.
The food watchdog authority will not allow the importation of animal innards from countries with these diseases even with the existence of an official program for prevention and mandatory immunization against the disease.