Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN3878
2003-06-29 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN OFFERS FOOD SAFETY HELP ON IRAQ IMPORTS

Tags:  EAGR ETRD IZ JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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.

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