QATAR TO GO AHEAD WITH AUSTRALIAN SHEEP IMPORT

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Australia

sheep import 'still on' Published: Sunday, 24 September, 2006, 10:33 AM

Doha Time

 

*By Rohit William Wadhwaney*

 

THREE days after a section of the media reported that Qatar had held off

imports of sheep from Australia following information provided by an animal

welfare organisation of the sheep being ill-treated while being transported,

an official of the Qatar Meat and Livestock Co (Mowashi) said the imports

continue as before.

 

" The news is false that Qatar has stopped importing sheep from Australia, "

Hashim Abbadi, an official of the company, told Gulf Times.

 

" A few days ago we received 14,000 of the animals from Australia. The next

consignment is now due for October 4, " he added.

 

According to reports, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a

global organisation working for the welfare of animals, provided the

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture (MMAA) with graphic evidence

of abusive treatment of sheep onboard ships from Australia.

 

According to a Peta official, Qatar held off on signing any new deal with

Australia on imports of sheep following a meeting the group had with MMAA

officials.

 

But Abbadi said Qatar continues to import Australian sheep, and the

" information provided by Peta is false. "

 

" Peta has a problem with sheep imports all over the world, not just Qatar.

They keep citing such examples. It doesn't mean the imports will be

stopped, " Abbadi said.

 

Meanwhile, a " severe dearth " of Indian mutton has hit many consumers hard.

 

The shortage is the result of a ban on exports of mutton imposed by India

last month, sources said.

 

Several butcher's shops in Doha said most consumers were now opting for

Sudanese meat, which is a lot more expensive.

 

Till the ban, which came into effect on August 21 following advice fromt the

World Organisation for Animal Health that Indian meat should not be exported

as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease, Qatar used to import almost

" 15 tonnes of Indian mutton " every week.

 

According to Abbadi, Indian mutton was popular among not just Indians but

several other nationalities as well because of its tendernes. " But even

though there is no Indian mutton in the market, consumers have replaced

their choice with mutton from other countries. So we would not say the

shortage of Indian meat has hit the market very hard. People are still

buying other mutton, " he said.

 

Officials of the city's hypermarkets said the sale of Pakistani meat, which

costs QR18-20, has also picked up due to the non-availability of Indian

meat.

 

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