Middle East | UAE Delegation Visits Beef Plant, Islamic Centers | Working wit...

Middle East

UAE Delegation Visits Beef Plant, Islamic Centers

Working with the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), USMEF organized a team visit from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to tour U.S. beef and poultry plants.  An official delegation from the UAE arrived in Washington, D.C. yesterday (Sept. 26) to review the procedures used by Islamic centers to certify as halal meat and poultry for export to the UAE. Most Islamic countries, including the UAE, use Islamic centers to ensure that the meat they import fulfills the obligations required by Islam. The Islamic centers need specific approval from the UAE government to approve exports to the Persian Gulf state. The delegation will meet with USDA representatives today and then visit a beef plant to see the USDA inspection system at work, since the UAE has a ban on U.S. beef imports. The team, which includes the head of veterinary control of Dubai and a senior veterinarian with the ministry of agriculture, will visit Islamic centers in the D.C. area, Nebraska, California, Georgia and Iowa.

The UAE is part of the Persian Gulf Customs Union, which came into being on January 1, 2003. Chilled beef imported by Union members are exempt from all duty, while frozen beef is subject to a 5 percent duty.

Middle East

UAE Delegation Visits Beef Plant, Islamic Centers

Working with the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), USMEF organized a team visit from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to tour U.S. beef and poultry plants.  An official delegation from the UAE arrived in Washington, D.C. yesterday (Sept. 26) to review the procedures used by Islamic centers to certify as halal meat and poultry for export to the UAE. Most Islamic countries, including the UAE, use Islamic centers to ensure that the meat they import fulfills the obligations required by Islam. The Islamic centers need specific approval from the UAE government to approve exports to the Persian Gulf state. The delegation will meet with USDA representatives today and then visit a beef plant to see the USDA inspection system at work, since the UAE has a ban on U.S. beef imports. The team, which includes the head of veterinary control of Dubai and a senior veterinarian with the ministry of agriculture, will visit Islamic centers in the D.C. area, Nebraska, California, Georgia and Iowa.

The UAE is part of the Persian Gulf Customs Union, which came into being on January 1, 2003. Chilled beef imported by Union members are exempt from all duty, while frozen beef is subject to a 5 percent duty.