Reuters – On July 28 India contested Cambodia’s claims that Indian buffalo meat was infected with COVID-19, saying it exports the meat only after getting COVID-free certification.

Cambodia earlier in the week said three out of five containers of frozen buffalo meat imported from India tested positive for coronavirus.

India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which comes under the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, said, “All the consignments of Indian buffalo meat are tested in accordance with international standards and sent only after COVID-19-free certification.”

India, the world’s biggest exporter of buffalo meat, was hit by a second wave of COVID-19, reaching a peak of over 414,000 daily new cases in early May. New infections have fallen sharply in recent months. On Aug. 3, the country reported 30,549 new cases, according to the World Health Organization.

“We export buffalo meat to more than 60 countries by strictly following quality parameters. We haven’t received any complaint from any country so far,” Fauzan Alavi, vice-president of the All India Meat & Livestock Exporters Association, told Reuters. “We are very sure about the quality of the product.”

Indian buffalo meat exports in the June quarter rose 112 per cent from a year ago to $1 billion, the APEDA said.