Sudan welcomes Saudi decision to lift meat imports ban

April 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s chamber of livestock exporters has welcomed the decision made by Saudi Arabia to lift the temporary ban on imports of frozen beef, lamb and goat meat from Sudan.

The head of the chamber, Sideeg Haidoub, said in a press statement to the government-sponsored Sudan Media Center (SMC) website that the decision will have a positive impact on Sudan’s economy, noting it will increase foreign exchange revenues.

He said that the Saudi decision should coincide with the rehabilitation and development of veterinary quarantines and slaughter houses operating in the country.

Haidoub urged the finance ministry and the central bank to provide the necessary funding for exporters, emphasising their ability to cover the demand of the live and frozen meat in the local and external markets.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) decision to lift the temporary ban was based on the reports of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) which stated that Sudan is free of the Rift Valley fever and Rinderpest, besides the recommendation of the OIE technical team that visited Sudan recently.

The Saudi market ranked first in the exports of the Sudanese livestock which is estimated at 4 million heads of cattle.

Sudan’s wealth of livestock is estimated at 140 million heads of cattle.

(ST)