Strict vigil on meat sellers

The Industry, Commerce and Tourism ministry will increase inspection and control campaigns on markets, shops, hypermarkets and other facilities selling meat.

The decision was taken yesterday after Minister of Industry, Commerce andTourism, Zayed R. Alzayani held an extra ordinary meeting with ministry’s officials to follow up on the meat issue.

The decision came as part of the implementation of the directives of Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Cabinet meeting to carry out tough monitoring to prevent exploitation of prices or unjustified price hiking to control the market.

The Premier and the Crown Prince also instructed the Industry, Commerce and Tourism ministry to uphold the rights of citizens through increasing inspection campaigns and holding the exploiters accountable.

Yesterday’s meeting also directed the Bahrain Livestock Company to provide the required quantities of meat to meet the demands of shops and CRs owners. The meeting also took decision to facilitate steps for issuing CRs for meat importing for individuals or investment companies.

Other decisions taken:

­ Tackle violations that could harm the market and consumers through tough legal steps.

­ After investigating complaints, warning to be issued to shops and restaurants that hiked their prices without justified reasons.

­ To affirm the readiness of the Consumer Protection Directorate to receive complaints and comments of consumers through its hotline 17007003 for legal procedures.

Currently, Bahrain imports meat from more than 15 countries and has 69 CRs to import and sell meat. With the redirecting of the government meat subsidy, the market is opened for investment to import meat and livestock from any country.