VZCZCXRO7188
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHDO #0526 2091317
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271317Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8081
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0421

UNCLAS DOHA 000526 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR - JASON BUNTIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD QA
SUBJECT: QATAR ACCEPTS OIE GUIDELINES FOR U.S. BEEF, 
CLEARING PATH FOR RESUMPTION OF U.S. EXPORTS 
 
¶1. Qatar's National Food Safety Committee decided on April 
14, 2008 to harmonize its regulations on the import of beef 
with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards. 
Due to internal GOQ discussions, Post had been unable to 
confirm the formal adoption of these guidelines by the GOQ 
before this week.  On July 21, the Committee's Chair sent a 
letter to the Embassy confirming the changes.  The English 
text of the letter is as follows: 
 
Charge d'Affaires 
U.S. Embassy 
Doha, Qatar 
 
Dear Mr. Michael A. Ratney, 
 
The National Food Safety Committee Meeting No.(6) on April 
14, 2008 decided that the importers of beef from the United 
States of America will no longer require an additional health 
certificate.  The Committee is in agreement to harmonize the 
Qatar standards to reflect the OIE International Animal 
Health standards and has suggested the following procedure: 
 
-- The health certificate "Meat and Poultry Certificate of 
Wholesomeness" is the only official certificate required for 
importing American beef to Qatar, with no need for any 
additional health certificate . 
 
-- The "Letterhead Certificate for Export of Beef and Beef 
Products to Qatar" is not required to accompany the "Meat and 
Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness" certificate. 
 
-- In case of further information regarding the beef 
shipment, please mention it in the "Remarks" space in the 
"Meat and Poultry Certificate of Wholesomeness" certificate. 
 
Please note that representatives from the intergovernmental 
committee, including Qatar General Organization for Standards 
and Metrology, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, 
and the National Health Authority Department 
of Public Health have no objections to using the OIE 
standards for importation of beef. 
 
Best regards, 
 
Gail Fraser Chanpong, Ph.D. 
Chair, National Food Safety Committee 
Doha, Qatar 
 
Director, Public Health 
National Health Authority, Qatar 
 
¶2. According to the regional Agricultural Attache posted in 
Dubai, the Committee's decision to adopt OIE standards for 
the importation of U.S. beef meets USDA requirements and will 
allow the USG to certify exports.  (Note: The additional 
certificates mentioned in the letter above were 
USDA-suggested workarounds for certifying beef exports. 
Qatar's decision not to require their use will allow USDA to 
resume its normal certification process. End Note.)  The 
receipt of the letter appears to draw to a close a five-year 
battle with the GOQ that began when the health authorities 
banned the importation of U.S. beef in response to a single 
case of mad cow disease in 2003. 
RATNEY