GAM issues regulations for slaughtering sheep in Eid

AMMAN – The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will announce the locations designated for selling and slaughtering sheep in the next two days, Dirar Ghawanmeh, director of GAM’s specialised markets department, said on Monday. 

Eid Al Adha, which starts at the beginning of October according to the Islamic lunar calendar, marks the end of the pilgrimage season, when Muslims of sufficient means are required to sacrifice livestock in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to God.

"So far, there are 10 known locations and we are negotiating with the owners of two other locations. If we reach an agreement with them, the designated areas will be 12," Ghawanmeh told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

GAM also announced a set of regulations for traders who want to sell sheep in the allocated locations during this year’s Eid Al Adha.

Under GAM regulations, vendors have to display sheep during the five-day holiday. 

Each vendor has to pay JD100 for services and a JD200 refundable deposit to guarantee that he will abide by the regulations.

Vendors also have to set up fences, provide water for the sheep and build tanks underground to collect the blood. 

The municipality also allowed vendors to sell camels and cattle, but they are not allowed to slaughter them at the stockyards as they have to slaughter them at GAM's main slaughterhouse in the Ain Ghazal area. 

If the veterinarian finds that the sheep, which should be fed in accordance with Sharia (Islamic law) and in good health condition, is not suitable for human consumption, traders will be forced to give the client another sheep.