Control teams belonging to the National Authority for the Safety of Food Products intensified their on-the-ground interventions as part of the preparations for Eid al-Adha. These operations led to the seizure and destruction of more than 1,205 kilograms of red meats and animal products unfit for consumption or of unknown origin, according to a statement issued this Sunday by the Authority.
The Authority clarified that these control campaigns were conducted in coordination with its regional structures, in partnership with the authorities and the relevant organizations. They covered markets where Eid sheep are sold, livestock markets, as well as points of sale of meat and animal products across the entire national territory, in order to guarantee the safety of the herd offered for sale and to protect consumer health.
The Authority has also strengthened its awareness campaigns for citizens, breeders and traders. Field teams from the central administration, composed of veterinarians and specialists in sanitary hygiene, organized awareness actions to encourage breeders and traders to comply with the sanitary and regulatory conditions in force. They also guided citizens on the criteria for choosing a healthy sheep and on methods of preserving meat after slaughter.
These activities notably involved distributing awareness leaflets in livestock markets and organized selling points. These documents contain the main recommendations regarding the proper choice of the sacrificial animal, conditions of transport and housing, sanitary slaughter rules, and appropriate preservation methods, in order to reinforce sanitary culture and prevent food risks during the Eid period.
In the same context, control teams from the Sousse Governorate, within the framework of joint operations with the trade services, the municipal police and security forces, seized two calves at a slaughterhouse, with a total weight of about 500 kg, after signs of pathological conditions were observed. Their infection with tuberculosis was confirmed, which led to their destruction in accordance with the sanitary procedures in force.
Also in Sousse, about 540 kg of livers from cattle and sheep were seized at an unregulated facility due to the lack of hygiene and storage conditions, the absence of legal data relating to the supplier, as well as non-compliance with regulatory refrigeration temperatures. The necessary legal measures were taken accordingly.
In the Governorate of Jendouba, control operations resulted in the seizure of 37.85 kg of unknown-origin ovine meat in a butcher shop. In Gafsa, 52.8 kg of ovine meat were seized following breaches related to storage and sanitary safety conditions.
In the Governorate of Kairouan, 75 kg of frozen liver were seized from a butcher, due to their unknown origin and unsuitability for consumption. These products were also stored in conditions not meeting sanitary safety standards, with non-compliance with the cold chain.
The National Authority for the Safety of Food Products stated that, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, it had made available a team of veterinarians to citizens throughout the Eid period, to respond to various questions and provide the necessary advice, with the possibility of remotely examining sheep and carcasses via the WhatsApp application.
The Authority called all citizens to use the dedicated numbers or to contact the toll-free number 80106977 to report any anomaly or to request information, as part of strengthening preventive efforts, protecting consumer health and ensuring sanitary safety during this religious occasion.
