Al Semman Farm, one of the two quail producers in the UAE and member of UAE-based Liberty Investment Company, has begun implementing expansion plans and gearing for exports, having just achieved the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) certification, the ultimate recognition for safety and hygiene standards in the global food industry.
Al Semman Farm, located in Al Ain, is the first UAE poultry company to have achieved the HACCP certification in both poultry farming and processing plant operations, following stringent testing under the complex HACCP program. Globally, most poultry farms achieve certification for only the processing plant.
The certification was recently presented by Theuns Kotze, Managing Director MEA, British Standards Institution (BSI) to James Greig, Manager, Al Semman Farm. BSI is a leading, global independent business services organization that delivers assurance to customers with standards-based solutions.
James Greig said, “Achieving the HACCP for a local quail farm is a major feat because rearing quail in the UAE is a daunting task due high summer temperatures and low humidity in the interior of the country. With the HACCP, we will be the first poultry company to export a locally produced poultry product from the Abu Dhabi emirate. The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), which closely monitors food processing in the emirate, is working with Al Semman Farm to standardize and establish new procedures for the export of quail to other markets.”
As per the expansion plans, the current capacity is being doubled following the commissioning of new quail rearing houses. The focus is on meeting the local market demands first, before venturing into exports, Greig said. The first of the exports will be to neighbouring countries, starting with Oman from this month. Subsequently, the exports will also target European markets.
Quail is a gourmet food, and is in great demand among connoisseurs. Local production is not large enough to meet the demand. Al Semman Farm, which markets its products under two brands – Al Ain Quail and Jumbo Quail -- is much sought-after by high-end restaurants and hotels as well as individual customers, many of whom drive all the way to Al Ain to buy fresh quail from the farm.
“Al Semman Farm prides itself on its 100 per cent natural Halal quail, as we do not use artificial growth promoters (AGPs) or antibiotics. More significantly, our birds are larger in size, with tastier white meat that is superior to the imported frozen quail available in the market,” added Greig.
Quail farming in the UAE started out in the early 90's. Greig, a third generation farmer by nature and qualification, was involved in the planning and researching of Al Semman Farm, following the keen interest of Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Liberty Group, in venturing into such a business in the UAE. Construction of the facility began in November 2006 and the first eggs were set in Al Semman Farm on the 25th of August, 2007.
HACCP, an acronym for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, was first used in the NASA space shuttle launch and has progressively been applied to the food industry. It is essentially a system that guarantees the safety of a food product. It is accepted worldwide and became mandatory in the UAE this year. HACCP takes every step of the process into consideration -- things like feed, water and even air is considered a risk and must be thoroughly sanitised and proven to be clean. To achieve HACCP Certification, one must prove in practice and theory that the product that is being produced will in no way do harm to the people consuming it.
About Al Semman Farm
Al Semman Farm is a high-tech, professionally managed quail farm and processing plant located in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It produces superior quality, 100% natural, halal, fresh and frozen quail, which is marketed under two different brands: ‘JUMBO’ QUAIL and the premium quality ‘AL AIN’ QUAIL. Al Semman Farm is accredited by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. It has become the first poultry farm in the UAE to achieve the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) certification in both poultry farming and processing plant operation. Al Semman is a member of the UAE-based Liberty Investment Company, which is the holding company of the Liberty Group.
About Liberty Investment Co LLC
Established over 30 years ago, Liberty Investment Co. (LIC) is the UAE-based holding company for a wide range of leading international and local brands and businesses in the United Arab Emirates. LIC is a professionally managed company with diversified business interests in the automobile trade, travel & tourism, transportation, real estate and logistics sectors. For more information, please log on to www.licuae.com
