India to start bovine meat exports to Indonesia during June

India will start exporting bovine meat to Indonesia during Ramadan festival in June as the island nation has issued an order allowing 'zone-based' shipments. India, a major exporter of buffalo meat, has been trying for market access for bovine meat in Indonesia since 1999.

However, the Indonesia was not allowing imports citing Foot and Mouth Disease. "Indonesian government is making efforts to open its market for Indian bovine meat by Ramadan period," the Southeast Asian country's Director General of Livestock and Animal Health Muladno said in a statement. 

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo had signed a Decree allowing 'zone-based' meat imports in March 2016 after its audit team confirmed that India has excellent mechanism of meat processing and quarantine control, he added.

Muladno was speaking at a Roadshow on Indian Bovine Meat in Jakarta held on Thursday. The event was organised by The Embassy of India in Jakarta, in association with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association (AIMLEA). 

In September 2015, the audit team from Indonesia had inspected abattoirs and research institutions in India. The team observed that India has more than 50 slaughter houses which are above international standards. Stating that the engagement between India and Indonesia remains vibrant, Ambassador of India Nengcha Lhouvum said: "Bovine meat is one of the prominent sectors which could help diversifying the exports from India that would ultimately benefit the government and the people of Indonesia,"

"With the recent decree signed by President of Indonesia allowing zone-based meat imports, India is expected to get a significant share of the Indonesian meat market as the bovine meat will be very competitively priced," said a statement issued by Indian Embassy in Indonesia.