Government officials say people should continue buying meat by Croatian producers.
A major investigative drive by veterinary inspectors in Dalmatian counties has brought some interesting results. They found as much as 4.5 tons of meat of unknown origin for which it is not known whether it complies with health and sanitary conditions. They have closed two butcheries and confiscated 52 animals, including cattle, lambs, goats and pigs. Also, they found out that five of the six meat traders have not been registered for such trading. All the perpetrators have been reported to authorities, reports tportal.hr on August 19, 2016.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Tomislav Kiš said that the main problem was the fact that the meat was of unknown origin. “If we do not have information about where the meat came from, we cannot know whether there is any danger from infectious diseases. That is the reason why we have to safely dispose of the meat”, said the Assistant Minister.
We do not claim that the meat is harmful, but we simply cannot know anything. We have an excellent system to protect public health of consumers, and we have an excellent veterinary service. This is a deviation in the system which needed to be addressed in this way, he added.
“Traders are indirectly involved after preliminary controls as slaughterhouses and butchers. We have about 140 slaughterhouses and 1,800 butchers under supervision, and the system works well. There is also a small number of premises which work without necessary permits. We have monitored them since May and we will put an end to it. Now it is for the courts to carry out the thing to the end. One of the possible penalties is imprisonment”, said Kiš.
Meat on the market is completely safe for human consumption, but it is important to go through the appropriate system. We have a chance, due to the issue of lumpy skin disease, to have Croatian meat in larger quantities on the Croatian market. I urge everyone to buy Croatian meat, concluded the Assistant Minister.
