Latest news with #MinistryofMunicipalitiesAffairsandAgriculture
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Building Permits Surge : Reforms drive 4,299 permits in H1
Bahrain has recorded a sharp rise in building activity, issuing 4,299 permits during the first half of 2025— an increase of 31.5% compared to the same period last year—according to His Excellency Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. H.E. the minister said the licensed construction area also surged by 57.9% to approximately 1.743 million square metres, reflecting Bahrain's investor-friendly climate and streamlined government procedures. Benayat boosts growth The growth was driven by continued upgrades to the national building permit platform Benayat, which has become a central tool for supporting investment, especially in real estate and urban development. H.E. Al Mubarak said the system's expansion now includes permits for renovations, fencing, subdivision, plot merging, change of land use, land reclamation (both land-based and marine), and new building modifications. He credited the platform for improving transparency and speeding up approvals while aligning services with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Tech-enabled integration Benayat serves as Bahrain's unified portal for building permits, offering engineering offices full digital access to application submission, fee payment, project tracking, and site requirements via an interactive national map. The platform is fully integrated with the National Geographic Information System, which features more than 300 geospatial data layers used by over 30 public and private agencies. According to the minister, this digital transformation ensures faster approvals, more efficient urban planning, and better coordination between government bodies, ultimately enhancing investor experience and service quality. Ongoing enhancements The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to enhance Benayat in coordination with the Information & eGovernment Authority, under the oversight of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. investment, and support sustainable urban expansion across the Kingdom.
Daily Tribune
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
E-sales of vet drugs banned
Online sales of veterinary drugs are now illegal in Bahrain under a new rulebook designed to keep unlicensed or unsafe medicines out of farms and clinics. The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has published the document, which sets out firm steps for bringing animal medicines into, and sending them out of, the country. The aim is to block counterfeit goods, shut down backdoor marketing and place every stage of the supply chain under close watch. Importers and sellers must secure a licence from the Animal Health Directorate before any shipment is allowed in. Technical review Each product is subject to a technical review covering its chemical makeup, country of origin, manufacturer, trial data if available, and full leaflet. If accepted, the product receives a certificate valid for five years. Applicants must submit a certificate of origin, a recent factory test report, photographs of both internal and external packaging, and a copy of the medical insert. Only licensed veterinary pharmacies, hospitals or approved distributors are allowed to handle these products. Each consignment is inspected at the border. If found in breach of the rules, a shipment may be refused entry or destroyed, with costs charged to the importer. Warehouses All veterinary stock must be kept in warehouses approved by the directorate, and stored under specific conditions of temperature, humidity, airflow and lighting. Storing medicine at homes or delivery vehicles is banned. Drugs containing banned antibiotics, growth compounds or unclear labelling in Arabic or English will not be permitted. No veterinary product may be exported without a licence. It must be registered in Bahrain, stored in authorised warehouses and backed by written consent from the destination country. Declaration Exporters must declare the volume, destination, method of transport and expiry date, along with a signed guarantee that the product will be used lawfully. Domestically, only licensed facilities may sell veterinary medicines. Each transaction must be recorded, ensuring full traceability. Sales through unlicensed channels or social media are prohibited. Adverts require advance approval, and misleading promotion is banned outright. Inspectors from the Animal Health Directorate carry out regular and unannounced visits to warehouses and companies. They check expiry dates, storage conditions and packaging, and may collect random samples for testing. Safety concerns If there are concerns over safety, the ministry can freeze distribution. Violations may result in fines, licence removal or permanent withdrawal of the product from the market. Applications and requests for permits can be submitted through the ministry's online portal or directly at the directorate's main offices.
Daily Tribune
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Move to set up national halal certification system
KMH Afaaq has submitted the lowest bid at BD211,750 to design Bahrain's halal certification system, as part of a public tender launched by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. The Animal Wealth Affairs is overseeing the process, which also attracted a BD242,880 offer from Gulf Innovations for Consulting and Technical Services, according to figures published by the Tender Board. The chosen consultancy will be expected to lay down the framework for a national system, setting out how it should operate and what rules must apply.
Daily Tribune
15-06-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Revitalised 'Ain Umm Sha'oum' Spring in Mahooz Inaugurated
MP Ahmed Al-Saloum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Better Life Charity Association, inaugurated the revitalised "Ain Umm Sha'oum" spring yesterday in the Mahooz area, in collaboration with the Capital Secretariat of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. Speaking at the ceremony, Al-Saloum emphasised the association's commitment to reviving the historic spring, citing its cultural significance and deep-rooted place in the collective memory of the Mahooz community and Bahraini society at large. Collaboration and Community Engagement He underscored the importance of collaboration between government institutions and civil society organisations, noting that the association's assumption of responsibility for the management and maintenance of the surrounding park represents a tangible example of effective community partnership. 'One of the core values embraced by the Better Life Charity Association since its inception is the support of economic and social well-being through meaningful community engagement,' Al-Saloum stated, adding that all efforts are carried out in coordination with the concerned authorities. A Space for Families and Children Parents and children expressed their joy over the reopening, praising the spring as a safe and welcoming space and a much-needed recreational outlet for families. The reopening coincides with the start of the summer vacation, offering a place for children to learn swimming and practice essential water skills. The project reflects ongoing efforts to preserve Bahrain's natural heritage while fostering social initiatives aimed at enhancing the local environment and the quality of family life.
Daily Tribune
02-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Imports Over 30,000 Livestock and 6,800 Tons of Meat Ahead of Eid Al-Adha
The Kingdom of Bahrain has ramped up livestock and meat imports to meet expected demand for sacrifices and meat consumption during the festive season. Engineer Assem Abdul Latif Abdullah, Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, confirmed the import of approximately 30,630 heads of sheep, 91 cattle, and 34 camels into the Kingdom. He noted that an additional 17,000 heads of livestock are expected to arrive in the coming days to accommodate increased demand for sacrificial animals. In addition to live animals, Bahrain has imported 1,541 tons of chilled and frozen red meat and 5,299 tons of frozen poultry. A total of 228 import permits were issued for red meat and poultry products, underscoring the Kingdom's readiness for Eid-related meat demand. The Undersecretary affirmed the Ministry's full preparedness for Eid Al-Adha 1446H through an integrated plan that ensures the readiness of licensed slaughterhouses, along with the availability of veterinary doctors to inspect animals in coordination with licensed abattoir veterinarians, aimed at streamlining and accelerating the inspection process. Highlighting the importance placed on food safety, Eng. Abdul Latif stated that all imported live, chilled, and frozen meat undergoes rigorous laboratory testing to ensure the health and safety of the meat supply in Bahrain. He also emphasized that both Hamala Abattoir and Bahrain Livestock Company's slaughterhouse in Sitra are licensed and operate under the supervision of qualified veterinarians. Slaughtering is conducted with regular health and veterinary inspections, both pre- and post-slaughter, and meat destined for markets is officially stamped and approved. Furthermore, around 25 veterinary professionals are stationed across key entry points — Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain International Airport, and King Fahd Causeway — operating around the clock to monitor the import and export of live animals and meat products, whether fresh, chilled, or frozen. Veterinary oversight also extends to quarantine facilities, ensuring imported livestock and meat products meet Bahrain's strict health regulations. The Undersecretary emphasized the Ministry's collaboration with certified importers who comply with all legal and veterinary quarantine regulations, in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2003 and its executive bylaw No. (7) of 2004. The strong importer demand this season, he added, is largely due to Bahrain's strategy of diversifying its sources of livestock and meat from various international markets, and granting licenses to qualified traders to ensure a stable and safe supply throughout the festive period
