First 60 Tons of Frozen Meat from the Netherlands to Arrive in TRNC This Week

The Soil Products Institute (TÜK) of the TRNC has completed the procurement process for imported meat. Approximately 20 tons of minced meat and 40 tons of lamb will arrive in North Cyprus from the Netherlands as early as this Wednesday.

The meat will be imported from the Netherlands with an EU health certificate. The cost of the meat, excluding transportation and insurance, will be 6.60 euros per kilogram.

It will be transported to the island in two containers at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, all imported meat products will be distributed to shops and butcher shops in Northern Cyprus. The Soil Products Institute will be responsible for the import and distribution of the meat.

Private companies capable of transporting meat at -18 degrees Celsius will be engaged to distribute the frozen meat across the island. It is expected that they will provide transportation at low rates as part of "public solidarity."

Authorities plan that this step will enable citizens to access affordable meat. Its cost in retail outlets will be 300 lira for minced meat and 400 lira for boneless lamb.

Recall that earlier, TRNC authorities initially set the maximum allowable price of meat at 550 Turkish lira. This caused dissatisfaction among producers and led to a situation where meat practically disappeared from store shelves for a while. The next government decision was to approve the import of frozen lamb and minced meat from abroad. Meat products will be imported into TRNC from the Netherlands.

The cost of frozen meat imported to North Cyprus will not exceed 400 Turkish lira.

The government's decision to import meat has sparked discontent among local producers: livestock farmers have been on strike for the second week in Northern Cyprus. Today, they were joined by other unions.