The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has recently inaugurated a new livestock terminal on temporary basis at the Al Maktoum International Airport, making the total number of livestock entry points in the UAE 17, five of them opened in 2018. The move comes in the run up to Eid Al Adha, to ensure swift entry of the sacrificial animals to the UAE. His Excellency Sultan Alwan, Assistant Undersecretary of the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, and other Ministry officials visited the terminal to confirm its readiness to receive inbound consignments of livestock.

He said: “The Ministry has taken a host of measures to ensure sound and speedy veterinary services at border crossings. In addition to deploying more doctors at veterinary quarantines as well as veterinary lab technicians, and extending working hours to facilitate and expedite procedures, we ensured that labs along the borders are well-equipped and ready to timely deliver test results and expedite the release of consignments that meet the health controls.”

He added, “MOCCAE has also approved multiple quick tests, to ensure the animals are clear of certain diseases, and provided all the equipment to streamline the handling of consignments. Furthermore, livestock traders can also benefit from MOCCAE’s online and smart services that allow them to request approval of their consignments to enter the local market.”

Livestock traders and importers must obtain a valid practice license, issued by MOCCAE, to apply for an import permit. And they can only import livestock from countries that adhere to the UAE’s veterinary health criteria.

His Excellency Alwan also stressed the need for the consumers to have their sacrificial animals slaughtered in approved abattoirs, which are restricted by health controls and regulations to maintain the safety of the meat. Sacrificial animals are examined and tested in abattoirs before they are slaughtered to ensure the meat is safe for human consumption. He pointed out that slaughtering animals outside of approved abattoirs is against the law in the UAE and poses a great risk on the consumers’ health, given the lack of veterinary control.