The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday imposed a ban on imports of fresh meat from Pakistan by sea route. Imports via air cargo will not be affected.

The development came after fungus was found in a container of meat that arrived from a company in Karachi. The ban takes effect from October 10.

A notification issued by the UAE ministry of climate change and environment said that the import of fresh and chilled meat will be permitted only by air.

The UAE allowed only vacuum-packed meat to be exported from sea which has a shelf life of 60 to 120 days from the date of slaughter.

“From 10 October 2023, not allowed to import from Pakistan to UAE fresh chilled meat by sea,” the updated notification added.

Pakistan is a big exporter of frozen meat in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. It exports meat through sea routes worth $12 million monthly.

In 2017, Pakistan was allowed to export poultry and poultry products after an 8-year ban was lifted by the UAE government.