4 days ago
Bahrain Imports Over 30,000 Livestock and 6,800 Tons of Meat Ahead of Eid Al-Adha
The Kingdom of Bahrain has ramped up livestock and meat imports to meet expected demand for sacrifices and meat consumption during the festive season.
Engineer Assem Abdul Latif Abdullah, Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, confirmed the import of approximately 30,630 heads of sheep, 91 cattle, and 34 camels into the Kingdom. He noted that an additional 17,000 heads of livestock are expected to arrive in the coming days to accommodate increased demand for sacrificial animals.
In addition to live animals, Bahrain has imported 1,541 tons of chilled and frozen red meat and 5,299 tons of frozen poultry. A total of 228 import permits were issued for red meat and poultry products, underscoring the Kingdom's readiness for Eid-related meat demand.
The Undersecretary affirmed the Ministry's full preparedness for Eid Al-Adha 1446H through an integrated plan that ensures the readiness of licensed slaughterhouses, along with the availability of veterinary doctors to inspect animals in coordination with licensed abattoir veterinarians, aimed at streamlining and accelerating the inspection process.
Highlighting the importance placed on food safety, Eng. Abdul Latif stated that all imported live, chilled, and frozen meat undergoes rigorous laboratory testing to ensure the health and safety of the meat supply in Bahrain.
He also emphasized that both Hamala Abattoir and Bahrain Livestock Company's slaughterhouse in Sitra are licensed and operate under the supervision of qualified veterinarians. Slaughtering is conducted with regular health and veterinary inspections, both pre- and post-slaughter, and meat destined for markets is officially stamped and approved.
Furthermore, around 25 veterinary professionals are stationed across key entry points — Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain International Airport, and King Fahd Causeway — operating around the clock to monitor the import and export of live animals and meat products, whether fresh, chilled, or frozen.
Veterinary oversight also extends to quarantine facilities, ensuring imported livestock and meat products meet Bahrain's strict health regulations. The Undersecretary emphasized the Ministry's collaboration with certified importers who comply with all legal and veterinary quarantine regulations, in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2003 and its executive bylaw No. (7) of 2004.
The strong importer demand this season, he added, is largely due to Bahrain's strategy of diversifying its sources of livestock and meat from various international markets, and granting licenses to qualified traders to ensure a stable and safe supply throughout the festive period
