Baghdad: The Ministry of Agriculture has returned a shipment of buffalo meat after identifying that it had exceeded half of its production period, contravening Iraqi standard specifications.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture announced the return of 29 tons of Indian buffalo meat. The decision was made because the meat shipment had surpassed half of its shelf life, which is in violation of the Iraqi standard specifications.

Dr. Hamid Abdul Ghati, Director General of the Veterinary Department, stated that the department’s staff at the veterinary quarantine station at the Trebil border crossing decided to return the shipment. This decision is in line with Article 68 of the Customs Law No. 23 of 1984 and the relevant Iraqi standard specifications, which mandate that meat should not exceed half of its shelf life or production period.

The ministry further clarified that the committee formed at the port, which includes representatives from relevant authorities, reached this decision after determining that the shipment violated the approved entry regulations and Iraqi standard specifications by exceeding half of its permitted shelf life.