WAM Abu Dhabi, June 24th, 2012 (WAM) -- The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City has stepped up the readiness of public slaughterhouses in Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba, Al Shahama and Bani Yas in preparation for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, in a move taken in anticipation of the rising public demand for slaughtered animals during the month.

In this context it carried out a comprehensive examination of all slaughtering facilities '&' equipment, particularly the air-conditioning, ventilation and sewage systems in order to address any faults that may undermine or reflect negatively on the work routines or the convenience of visitors.

The Municipality has endorsed a new design for a vehicle tailor-made for protecting animals from potential injuries sustained during transportation from livestock markets to slaughterhouses, and without a fuss. The step comes in the contest of the Municipality's attention to ensure the best care and attention to animals' welfare.

The Municipality has also carried out a drill to guard against the possible leakage of ammonia gas in the automatic slaughterhouse with the aim of training the staff as well as corporate clients and traders on the evacuation of work sites in case of any leakage of ammonia gas from the cooling lines '&' equipment.

Khalifa Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director of Public Health, said: "The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City places high priority to the health '&' safety of the community, and seeks to adopt the highest standards of quality, health and safety in all facilities, including all affiliated slaughterhouses. It is also keen on adopting cutting-edge technologies in the preparation of meats in terms of processing, chilling, transporting and storing meat at the highest health '&' safety standards".

To measure up with these high status, the Automatic Slaughterhouse of Abu Dhabi City has recently won the Best Slaughterhouse Award in the Middle East '&' North Africa awarded by the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) in recognition of its implementation of the highest quality standards and the advanced facilities in use in the slaughtering, processing and handling of produced meat, thus attaining an unprecedented excellent achievement added to the impressive record of the Municipality as regards the health and safety of consumers and the community at large.

WAM/ES/AM