A team of government meat experts from Bahrain is set to leave for Australia to evaluate the subsidised meat supply chain.

This was revealed by Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Essam Khalaf, who said that a joint ministerial delegation would inspect and assess the storage, packing, refrigeration, transportation and logistics techniques used to get meat from Australia to Bahrain, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Last month, the Agriculture and Marine Resources Directorate ordered a halt to all Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC) chilled meat imports after several consignments were found to be spoilt.

"We need to know where the shipments become spoilt - whether it is at the source or while they are being transported to Bahrain," said Khalaf.

"So a delegation of meat experts from my ministry, the Industry and Commerce Ministry and the Health Ministry is heading to Australia."

He said the BLC's abattoir in Sitra was also being inspected in line with parliamentary recommendations.

"This issue needs thorough investigation," he said.

"We are keen on protecting people's welfare and what's being presented to them."

The GDN previously reported on a shortage of subsidised meat following the ban on chilled imports imposed last month. - TradeArabia News Service