Environment: 6281 inspection tours of markets and slaughterhouses in preparation for Ramadan
As part of its extensive preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched a large-scale inspection campaign under the slogan "Market and Slaughterhouse Readiness" to ensure the highest standards of food safety and the availability of agricultural and animal products throughout the Kingdom. This step comes in response to the anticipated increase in consumer demand that typically occurs during Ramadan, necessitating enhanced operational readiness in markets and slaughterhouses.
Intensive inspection campaigns to ensure compliance
The ministry revealed that its inspection teams conducted 6,281 field inspection tours, with the participation of 428 judicial officers, to ensure establishments' compliance with regulations. These efforts resulted in the detection of 1,475 violations and the issuance of immediate warnings to rectify the situation. These tours are of paramount importance as they represent the first line of defense in protecting consumers from spoiled or counterfeit products, especially during peak seasons which some may exploit to distribute substandard goods.
In the context of protecting public health, field teams destroyed large quantities of food unfit for human consumption, including 19,936 kilograms of vegetables, fruits, and dates; 1,605 kilograms of meat and poultry; and 727 kilograms of fish. These figures underscore the Ministry's commitment to enforcing regulations and its zero-tolerance policy towards any violations that could jeopardize the health of citizens and residents.
Veterinary control in slaughterhouses
Due to the high demand for meat during Ramadan, the Ministry paid special attention to the slaughterhouse sector. The report indicated that a total of 111,322 head of livestock (sheep, cattle, and camels) were slaughtered. To ensure the safety of this meat, all carcasses underwent thorough veterinary inspection before and after slaughter. This resulted in the complete condemnation of 970 carcasses due to their unsuitability for consumption, and the partial condemnation of 10,041 carcasses, in accordance with approved veterinary protocols aimed at preventing the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Promoting sustainability and social responsibility
The campaign was not limited to oversight; it also included a crucial humanitarian and environmental aspect: promoting sustainability and reducing food waste. The Ministry collaborated with 23 specialized food preservation associations, resulting in the recovery and distribution of 16,189 kilograms of food fit for consumption. This reflects the integrated roles of government agencies and the non-profit sector in achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in enhancing quality of life and promoting volunteerism.
The ministry concluded by emphasizing that these tours will continue throughout the holy month, calling on consumers to report any violations, and stressing that food safety is a red line that cannot be crossed, and that these efforts are in the interest of the national economy and the Kingdom’s food security.
