The Ministry of the Environment and Water followed up on a complaint received during a live broadcast program on Noor Dubai Radio Channel this morning, that is a lady from Sharjah has bought 130 heads of sheep from the cattle market in Ras Al Khaimah, and moved them to Abu Dhabi

, where she noticed the sequential and repetitive deaths among the sheep, where after she disposed of the sheep at different stages, according to her testimony.

   The Ministry confirmed that all imported animal consignments received through the country ports are subject to veterinary checks -according to the approved quarantine procedures- where importing animals procedures begin when import permits are issued from the country of origin, that is listed in the allowed exporting countries list, where the follow-up of epidemiological situation of exporting countries is done through animal health organizations' reports, such as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), in addition to the notifications received by the country regarding rejected consignments and the reasons for such rejection.

   As for the testing procedures, upon the arrival of the consignment a check of its accompanying documents will be conducted as well to ensure the documents compliance with the required documents. Then, the process of physical inspection and sampling needed for laboratory tests begins, where the consignment is not allowed to be released for its pending status on the laboratory test results which would confirm the animals condition whether they are free from epidemic diseases. In case it was proved that any consignment is infected by any epidemic disease, measures adopted in accordance with the legislation provisions are applied, and the importer takes the responsibility of  re-exporting the animals back to the country of origin, or the importer shall bear the animal safe slaughter and disposal at their own expense.

   The Ministry is still investigating the lady complainant, in coordination with the concerned local authorities.