Call for Lowering Meat Import Tariff

To be able to meet domestic meat demand and prevent price increases and the slaughter of reproductive cattle during the months of Zilhaj, Muharram and Safar (the last and first two months of the Islamic calendar coinciding with August 23-Nov. 19), the government needs to lower import tariff on red meat from the current 26% to 5%, Mohammad Reza Kalami Bajestan, the head of Economic Affairs and Commercial Policies Office with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and trade said.

Every year, meat demand in Iran and many other Muslim countries increases during the period, as they offer votive food as part of the Islamic culture.

Currently, 10% of domestic demand for red meat are met via imports, which stand at 80,000-100,000 tons on average annually.

Imports are made from Brazil, Australia, Armenia and Georgia.