Dubai/Abu Dhabi: A ban on the import and sale of all types of pork products has been implemented across the UAE - however supermarkets and some hotels in Dubai said they are yet to receive a circular from the Municipality on the ban on the sale and cooking of pork.
Although the UAE has no fears of a swine flu pandemic outbreak, various precautionary measures have been put into place by the Ministry of Health and the UAE General Secretariat of Municipalities (GSM) one of which is the ban of pork.
The General Secretariat of Municipalities [GSM] issued a circular on Monday banning the import and sale of all types of pork, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of the Communication and Information Department at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) said. The ban covers cooking pork in hotels [for non-Muslims], he added.
The GSM had already banned the import of pork from Mexico and the US on Sunday but extended it to a blanket ban, considering the alarming situation, Al Reyaysa said.
"Only two outlets in Abu Dhabi have a licence to sell pork [for non Muslims] and our inspectors have already told them to remove the pork from the shelves."
Hotels which cook pork [for non-Muslims] cannot do so until the ban is lifted, he added.
"If any dishes containing pork are found in the market, our inspectors will confiscate them", Al Reyaysa said.
Khalid Sharif, director of the Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality said that available pork stocks will be allowed to be on sale "but stock replenishment will not be allowed. We have already implemented the ban."
In reply to a question on the duration of such a ban, Sharif said: "Until things are under control."
However, a restaurant in a four-star hotel located on Shaikh Zayed Road said they had no idea about the ban and would continue to serve pork.
"We have a separate kitchen where pork is prepared. So far we have not received any information on taking pork off the menu," said the restaurant manager.
A similar comment also came from another restaurant located on Shaikh Zayed Road: "Only one of our restaurants serves pork and so far I am not aware of a pork ban. I don't comprehend as to why pork sales or cooking should be banned because you don't catch swine flu by eating pork. The flu does not have any effect on the food chain," said the hotel food and beverages manager.
A spokesperson from Spinneys said they too had not received any advice. "Spinneys will continue to sell pork until it receives advice from the authorities to discontinue its sale. We will cooperate with the regulatory body over here,"
Al Reyaysa said the UAE had taken such a harsh measure because the country cannot take any chances, although the World Health Organisation has said eating properly handled and prepared pork is safe.
