Bahrain has banned imports of all fish from Kuwait and Iran, after a few samples were found to be contaminated with cholera bacteria, reported the Gulf Daily News on Tuesday.
Kuwaiti health officials alerted Bahrain on Monday about the contamination, which they discovered in some samples of Kuwaiti and Iranian fish.
"We have been informed that cholera bacteria has been found in some samples of fish sold in Kuwait and Iran," said public health director Sameer Khalfan.
"We have therefore decided to ban imports of all types of fish from Kuwait and Iran, as a precaution.
"The action has been taken as part of an inter-Gulf co-operation program," he said.
The paper said that Bahrain’s Health Ministry had issued a memo to health inspectors at all entry points to keep the fish from being imported.
Last week, Bahrain banned imports of grey mullet following the death of 600 tons of fish in Kuwait's waters.
The Kuwait government has banned fishing in its waters and set up a committee to investigate the mass deaths.
"Imports of only one type of fish from Kuwait were banned then, but we have now decided to ban all types, following the discovery of the new problem, until tests prove they are safe for consumers," said Khalfan.
"Fish available in Bahrain markets is safe for consumption. The food hygiene section, in co-ordination with the Public Health Laboratory, continuously checks all samples of fish to protect consumers' safety.
"We have strict procedures and regulations to ensure that all food items which enter Bahrain are suitable for consumption." – Albawaba.com
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