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{
    "id": 286698,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/286698/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 171,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Maj. Godhana",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 23,
        "legal_name": "Dhadho Gaddae Godhana",
        "slug": "dhadho-godhana"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the objective of this Statement is to correct for the benefit of the hon. Members, this august House and country at large the wrong impression created by the media to the effect that there is a ban on export of our meat and meat products to the UAE. I was quoted out of context by the media when I was trying to caution unscrupulous traders not to export substandard meat products to the UAE, purporting them to have emanated from Kenya. This, I stated, could lead to the UAE banning imports of meat and meat products from Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on realizing that I had been misunderstood, I instructed my Permanent Secretary to give a clarification on this matter. It is on record that my Permanent Secretary appeared on KBC television on the 15th April 2012 to clarify the issue. On the very day that the media reported on the purported ban, the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) exported 5.4 tonnes of meat to Dubai. Kenya has continued to enjoy good trade relationship with the UAE over the years, especially in the export of meat and meat products. Kenya exports 34 tonnes of meat and meat products to Dubai every week. This is projected to increase due to the great demand for Kenyan meat in the Middle East. Licensed export slaughter abattoirs process and export meat to the UAE. The Government of the UAE, through its veterinary officials, has continuously visited slaughter facilities in the country to evaluate inspection, certification and the food safety management systems in place. It is important to note that the OIE-PVS analyses and ranks the veterinary certification system of Kenya highly in the region. Therefore, animals from Kenya are safe and acceptable worldwide. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the most recent evaluation visit was undertaken on 6th April, 2012, just the other day, and so far the KMC, Farmers Choice Ltd and Quality Meat Packers have been approved to export meat and meat products to Dubai. It is important to note that I presided over the signing of a supply contract of meat and meat products between KMC and Blue Mountain Meat and Livestock Trading Company LLC and the Global Food LLC of Dubai on 27th of April this year. I would like to assure the House that there has been no ban on meat exports to UAE and the wider Middle East market. I would like to reiterate the importance of the UAE market as the most important destination of our livestock and livestock products. I would like to take this early opportunity to assure Kenyans that our meat and meat products for local and export markets are of high quality and it is safe. We believe in quality meat, as much as we are doing it to the animals we are doing it to ourselves because we are the consumers."
}