Ethiopia Resumes Meat Exports to Qatar After 15-Month Suspension

Ethiopia has resumed meat exports to Qatar after a 15-month suspension, following the introduction of pre-slaughter laboratory tests required by the Gulf country, according to the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority.

The shipments restarted in Tikimt 2019 in the Ethiopian calendar, Ayalewe Shumet, the authority’s executive director for animal products regulation, said. The suspension had been imposed because Ethiopia had been unable to meet additional export requirements introduced by Qatar.

Qatar is Ethiopia’s third-largest export destination for meat, making the suspension a disruption to an important overseas market. The restrictions were not limited to Ethiopia but also affected other meat-exporting countries, Ayalewe said.

To restore access, the authority worked with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ethiopian Veterinary Institute, the Ethiopian Meat Producers and Exporters Association, Qatar’s embassy in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s embassy in Doha. The Ministry of Agriculture coordinated diplomatic discussions that helped resolve the issue, according to the official.

The main requirement was to provide laboratory test results confirming the health of animals before slaughter. Under the revised procedure, blood samples are collected from animals and tested through the Sebeta Veterinary Institute before they are slaughtered. Animals that meet the required health standards receive certification.

The authority also conducts inspections before and after slaughter to determine whether meat is safe for human consumption and suitable for export. Quality and safety certificates are issued once the meat meets the applicable requirements, Ayalewe said.

The resumption comes as Ethiopia seeks to expand overseas markets for its livestock and meat products. The authority is working with the Ministry of Agriculture, the exporters’ association and other stakeholders to develop additional export destinations, including China, where preparations for market entry are under way.

Ethiopia has also introduced a new legal framework for animal health, with the approval of Animal Health Proclamation No. 1376/2015. Regulations, directives and standards are being developed to implement the legislation and facilitate the work of the sector, Ayalewe said.

He called on stakeholders to strengthen animal identification and disease-control systems, expand veterinary treatment and vaccination services, and develop market-oriented livestock production systems. Meeting international standards and the specific requirements of importing countries would be essential to expanding exports of meat, meat by-products and other animal products.

Source: FSX Business News