Haitham Abdel Basset, head of the butchers division at the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Egypt, has criticised breeders for increasing meat prices, leading to a 70% decline in purchasing power and causing 40% of butcher shops to close or change their business. He has urged officials to negotiate with major importers to set a profit margin that does not exceed 30% and to enact legislation prohibiting the hanging of meat outside butcher shops. He also pointed out the inconsistency in meat prices, with imported meat from Chad, Sudan, and Djibouti being sold at significantly different prices in different outlets.