Abu Dhabi, May 24 2013: Consumers say they are being
kept in the dark about the red meat quality grading system in the UAE,
which imports meat of five different quality levels.
They are demanding that the government give them mandatory quality
labelling of red meat. They said they were taken by surprise over the
grading system.
“Imported red meat must meet a set of criteria related to fat
content, colour of meat and age of animal at one of five quality levels:
Prime, Choice, Good, Commercial and Satisfactory,” a Ministry of
Environment and Water spokesperson told Gulf News.
The spokesperson, however, assured consumers that imported meat of
all quality grades is healthy and safe because it must undergo checks
and laboratory tests that guarantees it is fit for consumption.
“I never knew a meat grading system based on the colour of meat,
estimated age of the animal at slaughter and its fat content existed in
the UAE,” said Khalil Mohammad, an IT specialist and a long-time
resident of the UAE.
Members of the Federal National Council earlier demanded the
Government adopt an integrated approach to food safety through coherent
farm-to-table measures and adequate monitoring.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, told the
House in early March, 90 per cent of Australia’s meat exports go
through UAE ports and are re-exported to the rest of the world, which he
said reflects the trust bestowed on the country by a nation with a
highly regulated meat industry.
However, it has emerged that the quality of the red meat Australia
exports to the UAE is not on a par with that exported to the US or UK.
An article Tiers of a Cow published in the March 14-20 edition
of Business Review Weekly, Australia reported: “Australia has a group of
65 abattoirs — the so-called “tier 2” processors — supplying highly
regulated export markets such as the US, UK and Japan. In addition,
there is a group of 15 abattoirs – the “tier 1” processors — registered
for export to a group of smaller markets including Egypt, Indonesia,
Jordan and the UAE.”
Layla Khodjasteh, an Australian resident of the UAE, said she was
“shocked to learn the quality of meat the UAE imports into the country
is not on a par with that exported to other countries such as the US,
the UK and Japan.
“This is particularly shocking considering the progress UAE has made
as a nation and being a world leader across many industries,” Layla
said.
Ministry of Environment and Water officials stressed most of the red
meat shipments imported from Australia were of high quality and met the
UAE’s standards.
Vet inspectors of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA)
confirmed Australian red meat imported into the UAE was of the best
quality with the least amount of red meat shipment being destroyed.
Mohammad Jalal Al Raisi, director of communication and community
service at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, said imported red meat,
including that of Australian origin was subjected to tests at all UAE’s
ports.
“Meat shipments are again inspected by veterinarians in the Abu Dhabi
automated abattoir to ensure they meet safety standards and Sharia
rules. Certificates of production and Halal slaughtering are also
verified… Meat yet again is checked at retail outlets,” Al Raisi said.
He added each country was eligible to set standards for meat imports.
Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department
at the Ministry of Economy, said the Ministry of Environment and Water,
Adfca and municipalities across the country were tasked with ensuring
red meat consumed in the country was healthy and safe.
Al Nuaimi added he had no information about a meat grading system in
the UAE and his department “has no role in inspecting the quality of red
meat.”
The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) did
not say how consumers know the quality grade of the meat they buy and
whether the rules provide for mandatory quality labelling of red meat,
despite repeated requests by Gulf News. Australia’s two-tiered
classification system, has one group saddled with tightly controlled
rules, while less strict standards imposed on Tier One operators sees
them trading into same or similar markets, sources told Gulf News.
“The anomalies of the regulations imposed by Australia’s Department
of Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) means Tier One abattoirs, which export
meat to the UAE, operate under a state system allowing self-audits on a
yearly basis without the need for Daff appointed meat inspectors and
vets to conduct daily checks on meat produced,” said a source who wished
not to be named.
The source added Tier Two operators, however, operate under the
Commonwealth system and must have Daff vets and meat inspectors auditing
meat daily and present on site for overseas market export requirements.
The source noted that the traceability of meat coming from a Tier One
plant or a Tier Two plant was lost once Australian meat was cleared
into the UAE.
Concerning standards, demanded by the highly regulated markets such
as the US, UK and Japan in terms of red meat imports, the source said
the standards of the European markets for example sees greater demands
and expectations.
