Sudan to resume livestock exportation to United Arab Emirates
January 21, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted ban on Sudanese livestock as of 1 January 2009. The Emirate decision comes after similar moves by other Gulf countries.
Sudan exported over one million heads of sheep a month to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states before the ban, which exporters say caused them losses worth millions of dollars.
Sudanese minister of animal resources, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Tahir Abu-Kalabish, welcomed the UAE’s decision, saying that it comes at a time of openness of Sudanese exports of cattle to the Arab and Asian markets in recognition to the efforts exerted by the state regarding the animal health.
The ban on Sudanese livestock was imposed by Gulf countries because of the spread of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Sudan and other countries of the Horn of Africa, like Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Abu-Kalabish underlined that resuming exports to the UAE would benefit the producers and exporters as well and would increase the contribution of animal resources sector in the national economy and the Arab food security.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Kuwait and Qatar are major importers of Sudanese live sheep, goats, meat and meat products.
(ST)