The letter noted that following many reports on the continuous rise of meat prices in recent weeks in the domestic market as a result of an increase in outbound livestock smuggling, it is necessary that border crossings be controlled with more vigilance, Mehr News Agency reported.
Iranian livestock have become a hot commodity in the neighboring markets after the depreciation of the rial. The trade is also profitable for Iranian cattle owners due to the higher price of their cattle in the neighboring markets.
Exports of livestock were banned last May and cattle owners have taken recourse to smuggling their livestock, Financial Tribune reported.
Mohammad Lahouti, the head of Exports Confederation of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, said at the time the ban was imposed that this was not the first time such a measure had been taken, adding that he believes such protectionist policies are erroneous.
“The market cannot be controlled by placing limitations or bans on trade. To have a balanced market, we need to allow imports and create a competitive atmosphere,” he was quoted as saying by ILNA.
CEO of the State Livestock Affairs Logistics Company, affiliated with the Agriculture Ministry, Hamid Varnaseri, said between 100,000 and 150,000 tons of imported meat are distributed in the domestic market daily to balance the supply and demand as well as the commodity's prices, IRNA reported.