JORDAN OFFERS FOOD SAFETY HELP ON IRAQ IMPORTS

UNCLAS AMMAN 003878 SIPDIS CAIRO ALSO FOR FAS - CHAUDRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD IZ JO SUBJECT: JORDAN OFFERS FOOD SAFETY HELP ON IRAQ IMPORTS THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. ¶1. (u) In mid-June, Jordanian and Iraqi businesspeople purchased on the high seas a shipment of 4,652 tons of Brazilian frozen chicken for import to Iraq through Jordan. The same shipment had previously been rejected by Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen for health and safety reasons due to a problem with the freezing system in the vessel. When the ship arrived in the port of Aqaba, the Jordanian Health and Agriculture Ministers rejected the shipment as unfit for human consumption under GOJ standards. ¶2. (u) Aqaba Special Economic Zone Chief Commissioner Beltaji approached the Ambassador to say that Jordan had been uncomfortable in taking this action since food health and safety inspections are normally the responsibility of the health authorities of the final importing country. However, the GOJ -- knowing that such inspections are not taking place in Iraq -- decided that it had a moral responsibility to the Iraqi people not to allow unsafe food to pass through its territory. ¶3. (u) Beltaji and Health Minister Walid al-Maani told the Ambassador that the Jordanian authorities were ready upon request of authorities in Iraq to conduct regular health and safety inspections of food transiting Jordan to Iraq. This would be temporary until Iraqi officials were able to resume their own inspections at the border. ¶4. (u) Action request: Please advise. GNEHM