Jakarta free of imported Indian beef: Official

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has guaranteed that no markets in the capital are selling meat imported from India, which has not been declared free of foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest.

Head of the city livestock husbandry agency, Sumitro, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that an agency team conducted a routine market inspection and had found no beef or buffalo meat from India on sale in markets here.

"I therefore hope that people won't be too anxious about that (the possibility of being sold Indian meat) because our team conducts inspections three times a week.

"Moreover, the supply of meat for local consumption is adequate and we don't need to import any," Sumitro said.

He said that during market inspections, the team checks whether the meat on sale comes from cattle that is officially certified as safe for human consumption.

Sumitro did not clarify whether the team also inspects meat in supermarkets.

He only said the team would seize any contaminated meat, and would perhaps give it to zoos for use as animal feed.

"I have instructed my subordinates to further enhance the control mechanism so that people won't be fretful (about reports of beef being imported from India)," he said.

The central government recently announced a plan to import beef and buffalo meat from India to compensate for the local shortfall. The announcement caused an outcry.

The government has not announced whether it plans to go ahead with its controversial plan, but says it is awaiting the results of a study conducted by an independent team assigned by Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin, who departed for India on Monday.

Sumitro said that he himself opposed the government plan.

"Besides, importing meat would put local breeders out of business," he said.

He said he also believed that most Jakartans preferred buying local meat, which was fresh compared to imported meat. Imported meat is usually frozen.

"Imported meat is usually used for the consumption of big hotels, restaurants and supermarkets," he added.

The price of meat at both traditional markets and supermarkets has gradually fallen since last week.

According to data from Sumitro's office, the price dropped to between Rp 24,000 to Rp 28,500 per kilogram this week from about Rp 29,000 per kilo in previous weeks.

Many believe that the significant drop in meat prices has been caused by the number of people wary of buying meat following massive media reports that Indian meat had already flooded markets in some cities.

The wariness has affected the income of many restaurant owners.

But Sumitro insists that the drop in meat prices was to be expected, given that the latest price increase was mainly due to the high demand of meat for Idul Fitri celebrations.

The city consumes an average of some 150 tons of meat every day supplied by local breeders, including those from Greater Jakarta, Bandung and Subang in West Java, Salatiga in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java. (ind)