By Sami Zaptia.
London, 22 March 2021:
Libya and Spain have agreed protocols for the import of livestock, the Libyan embassy in Madrid reported today.
Revealing the details today, it reported that in cooperation between the Libyan Embassy in Madrid and the Libyan National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) in Tripoli, an expanded meeting was held in the capital, Madrid, with the competent Spanish authorities regarding the continued export of livestock and meat from Spain to Libya.
It was decided during the meeting that the direct export of livestock from Spanish ports to Libyan ports will continue under the supervision of the competent authorities, and within precise protocols that ensure facilitation of procedures and safety of exports.
With this agreement, the Libyan embassy stated that all traders can initiate export procedures, and go to the NCAH in Tripoli to obtain the necessary permissions.
The embassy said it expects that this work will contribute to reducing the prices of livestock and meat for consumers in Libya and provide the Libyan market’s needs of meat, especially during the coming holy month of Ramadan (mid-April).
Background: Rejected livestock shipment from Spain last January
This news comes on the back of the NCAH refusing on 23 January this year permission to the ship Elbeik to unload its 1,776 calves at Tripoli port. The NCAH considered the cargo of livestock to be unhealthy.
On 25 January, under armed patrol, Tripoli’s Interior Ministry reported that the Elbeik was forced to leave Tripoli port back to its origin in Spain.
The NCAH had refused to approve entry of two shipments totalling 2,671 cattle. The livestock shipments had arrived at Tripoli port earlier in January.
The other violating shipment of cattle were on board the ship “Karim Allah” carrying 895 calves.
The NCAH, part of the Tripoli Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Marine Wealth, had said that the reason for the rejection is the shipment’s violation of the general health and veterinary conditions.
It had added that it subjects all shipments of live animals imported from abroad to control, from the time they leave the country of origin until they reach the Libyan ports.
It had stressed that only healthy animals and their products are allowed to be tested to see their conformity.
Ship transporting unhealthy livestock forced to leave Tripoli port back to Spain | (libyaherald.com)
Animal Health rejects shipments of 2,671 cattle at Tripoli port | (libyaherald.com)
