All animal markets across Türkiye have been closed: Remarkable statement for meat prices!

Milliyet.com.tr/ÖZEL The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry stated that there was an increase in foot and mouth disease, one of the epidemic diseases, due toanimal movements after Eid al-Adha.

It was announced that quarantine measures were taken due to the detected foot and mouth disease and animal markets were closed throughout the country until further notice.

'IT WILL BE GRADUALLY REMOVED'

In a statement made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, it was stated that "In order to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease and to ensure effective control, activities of all animal sales points, including animal markets, live animal exchanges, animal collection and sales centers, and parks and fairs where animals move intensively, have been temporarily suspended in line with a holistic struggle strategy. This decision was taken only to accelerate the control of the disease and is a temporary and preventive animal health measure. Vaccination studies are continuing rapidly and the measures taken following the vaccination of our entire animal population will be gradually lifted by monitoring the disease situation."

So is there a risk in the meat we consume? Will the closure of animal markets due to foot and mouth disease increase prices? President of the Turkish Red Meat Producers' Central Union Bülent Tunç and President of the Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED) Aydın Ağaoğlu explained the questions on the subject to milliyet.com.tr.

'THIS IS A NEW TYPE OF DISEASE'

The statements of Bülent Tunç, the President of the Central Union of Red Meat Producers of Turkey, are as follows: “Foot and mouth disease also emerged in Europe 3-4 months ago. Unfortunately, foot and mouth disease is a reality of our country. It first emerged in Hakkari in the eastern provinces and spread to the country. It is the best thing to close the markets of 81 provinces so that it does not spread further. They are trying to prevent this disease by spraying. This is a new type of disease. Normally, vaccination is done on a certain schedule in Turkey, but when it became a new type of disease due to illegal animal entry, the vaccine we used did not have much effect.

'ANIMAL MOVEMENT HAS STOPPED'

I think the latest foot and mouth disease came to our country through illegal animal entry. It first appeared in Hakkari. It was going to spread to all of Turkey. The best thing to do to prevent it from spreading is to close the markets. At first, 8-10 provinces were closed. They saw that unauthorized shipments were being made. When the markets were closed, animal movement also stopped.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS IN THE MEAT WE CONSUME?

There is no risk in the meat we currently consume. There is no negative effect on human health. There is no disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. This time, a very different version of foot and mouth disease has emerged. Markets have been closed for vaccination. There is no question of the disease being transmitted to humans.

WILL IT HAVE AN AFFECT ON MEAT PRICES?

'NO NEED FOR WORRY'

There is no need for producers to be anxious. They should abide by the rules. If the Ministry and the veterinary team make it easy for our friends to vaccinate their animals for 21 days, we will get through this in a short time. We will have solved this issue with very little financial loss. Otherwise, if we continue with the logic of 'nothing will happen to my animal. I don't have one, let me sell it', we may have earned 3-5 cents today, but we will have jeopardized the future of our country's animal husbandry. I want our producers to abide by the rules.

CONSUMER CONFEDERATION PRESIDENT AYDI AĞAOĞLU: 'OPPORTUNISTS MAY INCREASE PRICE'

The President of the Consumer Confederation Aydın Ağaoğlu made the following statements on the subject: “The basic food of the people cannot be priced according to the supply-demand balance. However, the cost element can be taken into account. Therefore, although there was an abundance of meat during the Eid al-Adha, opportunists and profiteers among some large meat merchants may increase prices due to the stagnation in animal circulation in accordance with the circular published by the Ministry of Agriculture.

On the other hand, if producers send animals to slaughter quickly due to the risk of disease transmission, an abundance of meat may cause a price drop in the market for a short time, but it may also cause negativities such as the risk of diseased meat transmission and the rapid decrease in our animal population.

'COMPLAINT TO THE UNFAIR PRICE ASSESSMENT BOARD'

If this situation is detected, both butchers and consumers can easily complain to the Unfair Price Evaluation Board within the Ministry of Commerce via the internet.

'289 COMPANIES WERE GIVEN A FINE OF 114.7 MILLION TL' In accordance with the decision taken at the meeting held on June 25, the Unfair Price Evaluation Board imposed a total fine of nearly 114.7 million TL on 289 companies on the grounds that they made unfair price increases.

'THOSE WHO PLAY WITH MEAT PRICES HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE'

Currently, meats stored in freezers can be consumed after Eid al-Adha. In addition, we are in a period where red meat consumption is not very high due to the season. Despite this, those who act opportunistically and manipulate meat prices due to the environment created by the circular published by the Ministry of Agriculture will have to pay the price.

'CONSUMERS CAN COMPLAIN BY TAKING PHOTOS'

I believe that the units of the Ministry of Trade in all 81 provinces will follow the issue meticulously. As consumers, we can also complain to the Unfair Price Assessment Authority about the excessive price increases we see, by photographing or recording them on our mobile phones, if possible. In addition, complaints can be easily made through the Ministry of Trade's HFA Mobile application.”