Imports of Frozen Meat to Begin

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel made statements regarding the Council of Ministers’ decision on “meat imports”.

Üstel announced that boneless meat would be sourced from Europe through Turkey. He mentioned that meat prices were obtained from Spain, the Netherlands, and Romania. Discussions have been held with companies importing frozen meat, and those starting to sell will add a 10% profit margin.

Üstel detailed that the price per kilogram of boneless lamb from the Netherlands would be 400 TL, and ground beef with 10% fat content would be 300 TL. He also mentioned a 1,100 TL subsidy for local meat and the continuation of feed support. Üstel emphasised the significance of ensuring that the public has access to meat, stating, “It is very important for us that our people can meet their meat needs“.

He also confirmed that the Soil Products Office (TÜK) had finalised its arrangements with the necessary companies to import meat products. Üstel announced that the meat would arrive within 10 days, ensuring that “everyone will have a sacrifice for the holiday“.

Additionally, Üstel emphasised that the Ministry of Economy and Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Veterinary Department, and the Ministry of Finance would continue their inspections of food products to maintain quality and safety.

The government appears to have responded to the Butchers’ Union which said butchers could not compete with the cost of cheap meat imported from abroad by south Cyprus.

The head of the Butchers’ Union, Halil Akbıçak, said TRNC butchers were unable to compete with butchers in the south because they import cheap meat from abroad. Recently, the union was obliged to sign an agreement to cap the price of meat, a move which was not workable for the butchers, he said.

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