Cabinet reviews meat reserves, aid for herder, and vehicle imports

During a Cabinet meeting held on January 11, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry P.Sergelen was instructed to reserve up to 30 million tons of meat purchased from herders residing in 127 soums in 17 provinces that have been facing particularly challenging winter conditions and will possibly face dzud conditions soon.

The government’s ministers believe that reserving meat will be of great importance to avoiding higher meat prices and to helping support herders who will possibly face the loss of their livestock to dzud conditions.

Financing for purchasing meat will be provided by commercial banks and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry will finance interest rates for banks that fund the reserve.

Cabinet agreed to provide soums that have been facing particularly challenging winter conditions with 2,410 tons of hay and 1,700 tons of fodder at a 50 percent discount, and says ambulances will be provided to medical clinics in 15 soums.

Prime Minister J.Erdenebat instructed some ministers to put together a draft of pro- posals from the National Security Council on air pollution and soil contamination, and to present the draft to Cabinet within the first two weeks of February.

During the meeting, a national program for preventing the spread infectious diseases was approved.

Minister of Roads and Transportation D.Ganbat was instructed to present proposals on banning the import of used vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards and righthand drive cars.