TEHRAN (ISNA) - Iran's veterinary organization chief stated that Iran had authentic confirmation from the EU for export of farm shrimps and other seafood.

Congratulating the veterinarian's day (Friday) and remarking the recent achievements of the veterinary organization, Hossein Hassani stated that based on the signed contracts between FAO and Iran, the coordination of the Central Asia region and Caucasus was handed over to Iran's veterinary organization.

"The chiefs of all veterinary organizations of the 13 countries in the region are to gather for a meeting in Iran on the 30th of October," he added.

"For export of farm shrimps and fish we have got the needed license from the EU," he stated.

Pointing to the announcement that Iranian horse riders were not able to take part in the international championships with their own practice horses, he went on to remark that the championship officials had agreed to reconsider the quarantine of Iranian horses.

"Kish and Tehran were confirmed to be excluded from quarantine and Iranian horse riders can take part with their own race horses for the first time in the upcoming Asian championships in Qatar," he concluded.

Large veterinary center in Khorasan 73% complete

MASHHAD, Khorasan Razavi Prov. -- Director-general of Khorasan Razavi Veterinary Organization here on Saturday announced that the Middle East's largest veterinary center is being constructed in Golmakan district of Mashhad.

Mohsen Dastur told IRNA that the center is being constructed with a total capital of 100 billion rials for the first time in the country, adding that the project has shown a physical progress of 73 percent.

The specialized veterinary center, he said, is being constructed in an area of 32 hectare. The area of isolation section and central department building are 3,400 square meters and 800 square meters respectively.

The official predicted that the center, which will become operational by March 2008, comprises of different parts such as equipped laboratory and complete isolation unit to study veterinary diseases.

Iran has so far allocated some 30 billion rials for its construction and will spend another 40 billion rials for equipment, he added.