The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will launch Saturday an initiative for meat prices for the month Ramadan, to ensure the availability of meat to citizens at a suitable price during Ramadan, and to create a balance between supply and demand in the market.

The ministry said in a statement today that they agreed with Widam Food Company to provide 30,000 local and imported cattle, to sell their meat at subsidized prices for citizens (at a rate of two sheep per citizen) starting Saturday. Prices for local sheep are set at QR1000, which has 30 to 35 kilograms. Syrian sheep with the same weight will cost QR950. There are an extra QR16 riyal for cutting and wrapping the meat, and another QR34 for the workers.

As part of its measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry enforced a number of precautionary measures for all slaughterhouses in the country to follow, such as providing sterilizers in front of the main entrances, measuring the temperature of all workers twice a day, providing masks and gloves for workers and ensuring they use them properly when handling, preparing, and disposing of carcasses in a healthy manner. The requirements also include having workers wash their hands regularly, measuring the temperature of customers when paying and receiving their products, and allocating specific hours for the elderly within the working hours to limit any interaction with younger people, in addition to carrying out sterilization operations on a daily basis in all facilities, including waiting halls, doors, handles, meat delivery trolleys, and slaughtered receiving windows.

The ministry called for adhering to these measures, adding that it will increase its inspection visits and will take all legal measures in line with law no. 8 of 2008 on consumer protection.

(QNA)