As the Feast of Sacrifice approaches, Turkish consumers are concerned over the safety of imported red meat. The imports were launched as a remedy to high prices, but experts speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News say this policy will worsen the husbandry crisis in Turkey over the long term.

Ahead of the approaching Kurban Bayramý holiday, starting Nov. 16, discussions about red meat imports and the safety of imported meat have reignited, with experts expressing concern over the safety of imported meat.

"Inspections and observations in the market are inadequate. Therefore, the risks involved during the transportation, distribution and delivery of imported meat to customers are extremely high," Ali Çetin, deputy president of the Federation of Consumer Associations, or TÜDEF, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

The Agriculture Ministry announced a series of regulations in May in order to prevent a surge in red meat prices. The first of these gave a green light to livestock imports.

These imports failed to pull down the prices and according to some reports caused a rise in prices in other countries in the region, too. Thus companies received permission to import red meat.

However, some experts say such imports pose a threat for producers and consumers alike. They also note the significant loss of public confidence in sacrificed animals and imported red meat, noting that it is obligatory to conduct more inspections to reassure society.

Can Demir, head of Calibration and Experiment Laboratories, agreed with Çetin, noting that one of the 50 samples sent to the Pendik Veterinary Research Institute in Istanbul carried potentially harmful substances.

"This kind of news has a two-sided effect on the consumer," Çetin said. "The first problem involves food safety and the second is the loss of purchasing power due to rising prices."

"During the import of red meat, products carrying bacteria or viruses could enter the market. This could cause serious food safety problems for consumers. Turkish consumers are consuming the most expensive meat in the world, while also buying the most expensive fuel."

Brussels criticized

"The EU openly imposes imports to Turkey with its 2009Progress Report," said Turhan Tuncer, chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture Engineers. "The issue became more threatening as the EU did not open negotiations on food. Now, producers are concerned and consumers are suspicious about imports."

"Countries such as Germany, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic and Greece that are under the threat of mad cow disease are included in the list of countries that may import to Turkey," Tuncer said, adding that imports may also stop activities of local stockbreeders completely.

The surge in red meat prices is due to a "low level of production," according to Numan Dursun of Ankara University‘s zootechnical department. The Agriculture Ministry is not admitting this, as it would mean admitting a failure of current policies, said Dursun.

"Every increase in prices should not be seen as a reason for imports, especially if production is falling," Dursun told the Daily News. "If the lack of supply due to faulty policies of the ministry is covered with imports, production in the following years will further decrease and imports will become permanent."

Thus, the academic said a serious crisis awaits the sector in a few years. "The problem should be solved in accordance with the resources of the country. Domestic production should be increased," he said. "Policies should be designed to stop the decline in the number of animals. Incentives to increase their number should be implemented."