Malaysia To End 2-year Ban On New Zealand Beef Imports
MALAYSIA - Malaysia is set to end its two-year-old suspension of beef imports from New Zealand, an AFP report on the Thomson Financial website said Thursday. The Muslim country imposed the ban in 2005 as New Zealand slaughtered cattle against Islamic halal requirements.
9 August 2007
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"We don't want the business to be monopolized by these groups. Opening up the industry would also allow prices to be more competitive."
Aziz Jamaluddin
"We don't want the business to be monopolized by these groups. Opening up the industry would also allow prices to be more competitive."
Aziz Jamaluddin
Malaysia's veterinary services department told AFP the ban is being lifted because local cartels are monopolizing the beef trade and jacking up prices of the meat.
AFP quoted the department's head, Aziz Jamaluddin, as saying, "We don't want the business to be monopolized by these groups. Opening up the industry would also allow prices to be more competitive."
Aziz told AFP that Malaysia is now inspecting beef abattoirs in New Zealand and other countries. If they comply with halal meet requirements and practice international food safety standards, New Zealand, Australia, India, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Sudan, Kenya and Zimbabwe will be allowed to export halal beef to Malaysia, he said.
Source: AHN
