On Indian meat

On Indian meat

I write in reference to a news item published in The Jakarta
Post on May 25, regarding the importation of meat from some
countries, including India.

While this Embassy has no information on the provenance of the
smuggled meat, and supports the Indonesian government's action to
check violations of local regulations, it is essential that
readers are informed of the facts about Indian meat.
* India is not affected by mad-cow disease.
* India exports buffalo meat to over 50 countries around the
globe.
* In none of the importing countries in the last 33 years has
Indian meat caused foot and mouth disease (FMD).
* Even island states, such as Mauritius that are completely free
of FMD, have safely imported Indian meat since 1983.
* Malaysia (Sabah province) and the Philippines, both neighbors
of Indonesia, are major importers of Indian meat.
* India only exports deboned, deglanded and frozen buffalo meat,
which is entirely risk-free, and reasonably priced.
* Indian exports are made under the guidelines established by
International Animal Health Care Code of the Office of
International Epizootics (OIE).

The Embassy has, in the past, taken up this issue with the
Indonesian authorities, urging them to remove the ban on Indian
meat so that Indonesian people have easy access to
high-quality and reasonably priced meat. The recent incidence of
smuggling only highlights the fact that there remains a lucrative
price differential, which is being exploited by unscrupulous
traders.

AMAR SINHA
Minister
Indian Embassy
Jakarta