Officials confirm sale of low-quality buffalo meat imported from India

Minister of State for Commerce of India Jairam Ramesh visiting Azerbaijan stated that he will investigate the problem on sale of low-quality buffalo meat brought from India to Azerbaijan. The minister said that India exports buffalo meat to the Middle East and European countries at certain consent.

"There has not been any complaints about it up to now. If there is any problem concerning the quality of meat exported to Azerbaijan it will be investigated," the minister said.

Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev also said that buffalo meat is imported from India. "Export of buffalo meat is not a crime, deceiving people is a crime. The investigations show that the keeping conditions of the meat are often not observed. Companies sometimes say that India exports low-quality meat," he said.

Ismayil Hasanov, chief of State Veterinary Service told the APA that meat products imported from India are examined. "But the buffalo meat is sold instead of other meat in Azerbaijan," he said.

Hasanov said that keeping conditions are not observed and as a result of it the product spoils. "We control the quality of the meat imported to the country. We did not observe import of low-quality meat from India," he said.