Indian buffalo meat is exported as per global quality norms, says Apeda

Value of exports up in last fiscal to $2,921 a tonne
India has said that buyers abroad could safely import Indian-origin frozen boneless buffalo meat as it is prepared in accordance with OIE (international) guidelines to prevent any risk.
“The (Indian) buffalo meat is prepared and exported in accordance with OIE guidelines (international guidelines) for any risk mitigation. Only boneless buffalo meat is allowed for export from India which is safe and risk-free,” the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said in a statement on Thursday.
Apeda, an arm of the Union Commerce Ministry, is the nodal agency for promoting and developing agricultural exports. Apeda said that several interventions have been made by the Centre to control and eradicate various livestock diseases and thus buffalo meat was free of any risk.
“The launching of National Animal Disease Control Programme in June 2019, to control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by 2025 with vaccination and eradication of disease by 2030, is one of the flagship schemes of the Government of India. In order to fully contain and eradicate the diseases, 100 per cent cost of vaccine is borne by the Central Government for which an outlay of ₹13,343 crore has been made,” it said.
Talks with China
Meanwhile, India continues to negotiate with China — one of the largest importers of meat — for a chunk of the Chinese market. As per industry estimates, India could export buffalo meat worth at least $2 billion annually if the market opens up. On the other hand, India has maintained its buffalo meat exports at $3.17 billion in the 2020-21 fiscal, unchanged from the previous one, despite an overall decline in goods exports in the pandemic-hit year, according to government figures.
“Buffalo meat export from India is going on smoothly and there are no hurdles in the supply chain. The affordably-priced buffalo meat is contributing towards food security and food price inflation control in the importing countries,” the APEDA statement said .The value realisation of buffalo meat has increased to $2,921 per tonne from $2,754, the statement added.
India, one of the largest exporters of buffalo meat in the world, exports to 70 countries across the globe, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and UAE.

Source : thehindubusinessline