Hafar Al-Batin Environment Authority intensifies monitoring of slaughterhouses during Ramadan
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Hafr Al-Batin Governorate announced that it has raised the level of preparedness to maximum capacity at all slaughterhouses and approved slaughter points in the governorate, coinciding with the start of the holy month of Ramadan. This step comes as part of a comprehensive operational plan aimed at ensuring the safety and suitability of meat for human consumption, amidst official assurances that any violations that may affect public health will not be tolerated.
An intensive monitoring plan to ensure food safety
The Ministry's inspection teams have intensified their field visits to public markets and central and branch slaughterhouses. The plan includes increasing the number of veterinarians, supervisors, and health inspectors to ensure thorough examination of livestock before and after slaughter. Inspections focus on verifying that carcasses are free from diseases and pests, as well as monitoring operators' adherence to general hygiene standards, continuous sterilization of tools and equipment, and safe disposal of waste in accordance with approved environmental regulations.
General context: Hafr Al-Batin, the livestock capital
These measures are of particular importance in Hafr Al-Batin compared to other regions, as the governorate is historically and economically known as the "livestock capital" of Saudi Arabia, given its large livestock market and vast herd. With the arrival of Ramadan, the demand for red meat increases dramatically to meet the needs of Ramadan meals, placing immense operational pressure on slaughterhouses and necessitating strict regulatory intervention to prevent any violations that might arise from overcrowding or the desire to expedite operations at the expense of quality.
The health and economic importance of oversight
The importance of these monitoring campaigns is not limited to the regulatory aspect alone, but extends to include extremely important health and economic dimensions:
- On the health front: The measures aim to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases and ensure access to safe and healthy food for citizens and residents during the holy month, thus easing the burden on the health sector and protecting society from food poisoning.
- On the economic level: Strict regulation contributes to combating the phenomenon of random slaughter and unregulated slaughterhouses that are usually active during seasons, thus ensuring fair competition and protecting the consumer from commercial fraud or manipulation of prices and meat quality.
Call for cooperation and reporting
In closing, the Hafr Al-Batin Environment Department stressed that it will apply the regulations and rules to violators without exception, calling on citizens and residents to cooperate with regulatory authorities by slaughtering in licensed slaughterhouses under veterinary supervision, and to immediately report any violations or observations through the ministry’s official channels, to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all.
