Astana, Kazakhstan – 13 February 2026 - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security convened a closed-door Technical Consultation with Heads and senior representatives of Veterinary Authorities from Central Asia and Azerbaijan to provide structured regional inputs to the Study on Market Access Barriers for Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) Meat Exporters. The consultation was organized in cooperation with the World Organisation for Animal Health and brought together chief veterinary officials and senior technical experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, alongside representatives of IOFS and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The meeting addressed systemic constraints limiting intra-OIC meat trade despite substantial livestock resources within Member States and growing import demand across OIC markets. Countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation collectively possess one of the largest livestock bases globally. At the same time, OIC Member States remain structurally net importers of red meat, with annual import volumes estimated at 35–40 billion USD and a net import gap of 20–25 billion USD. A significant portion of this trade is directed toward suppliers outside the OIC region, while intra-OIC meat trade remains comparatively limited.
Participants emphasized that this imbalance reflects structural misalignment rather than insufficient production capacity. Discussions highlighted recurring challenges related to mutual recognition of veterinary systems, additional import requirements beyond internationally recognized standards, procedural duplication, and administrative delays affecting establishment approval and certification processes. Delegations noted that several of these constraints are regional in nature and require coordinated approaches rather than isolated national responses.
The consultation enabled identification of common regional barrier patterns and facilitated prioritization of constraints based on their impact on trade flows and feasibility of resolution. Participants underscored the importance of translating analytical findings into measurable reform pathways that enhance predictability, strengthen regulatory alignment, and increase confidence between trading partners within the OIC space.
Inputs collected during the consultation will be consolidated by IOFS into a structured regional analytical matrix and incorporated into the broader Study on Market Access Barriers for OIC Meat Exporters. The outcomes will inform subsequent technical dialogue and potential coordinated engagement at regional and OIC levels aimed at strengthening intra-OIC meat trade and improving food security resilience across Member States.
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