Algerian authorities to stop importing meat as from next September

The deadline set up by the Algerian authorities for the import of frozen meat is the beginning of September after two months of intensive imports by nearly 10 companies including the Algerian Company for Meat Transformation and Packaging “ Sotracov” which imported 4 thousand tonnes of frozen meat from India.

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• The Algerian authorities have, exceptionally, allowed the import of this product from the period between July 1^st and August 31^st in a bid to supply the Algerian market and curb the prices increase during the holy month of Ramadan.
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• But the importers and the wholesalers have indicated that the initiative didn’t reach the authorities objectives because of the new taxes levied on these types of activities, calling for the nullification of the VAT imposed by the complementary financial law endorsed in 2009.
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• The decision to import meat from India has saved the national company nearly $ 1000 per tonne in comparison with the import from Latin America countries which saw the prices leaping from $ 3500 to $ 4600 per tonne over the period between the first semester of 2009 and the first semester of 2010.
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• The skyrocketing prices on the international market have pushed the Algerian authorities to turn to the Indian supplying companies despite the tremendous pressures applied by the local operators who used to import from Australia, Latin America, Europe and New Zealand without due respect of the list of specifications.
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• In a total opposition with the Algerian operators who pressure the Algerian authorities to lift the ban on the import of meat, the Algerian Farmers’ Union Secretary General Mohammed Alioui has vehemently criticized thorough Echourok the Agriculture Ministry for yielding to the pressures of the “ lobbies” which cause tremendous damage to the local breeders.
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