According to Gulf Daily News, the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry has filed a case against Delmon Poultry claiming it failed to vaccinate more than 28,000 chicks.

But general director Abdulkarim Ismail Al Alawi denied any wrongdoing.

"The responsibility for providing vaccinations which are necessary to immunise one-day-old chicks rests with the chicken farmers and not Delmon Poultry," he said in a statement.

"Drawing up a preventative immunisation programme and supervising the implementation of this programme is the responsibility of the vets at the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry's agriculture and marine resources department of veterinary medicine.

"Delmon Poultry neither owns nor runs any chicken farms and has not got the authority to supervise such farms.

"That responsibility rests with the farmers and the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry."

Mr Al Alawi said the company itself reported the fact that chicks had not been vaccinated.

He said the company was surprised at being reprimanded and said it should be thanked for bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities.

Sources alleged Delmon Poultry had been targeted unfairly to coincide with Ramadan to create panic about the standards of chicken.

"According to the rules of the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, responsibility for the continued treatment of the chickens falls on farmers," he said.

"This all seems like Delmon Poultry is being targeted in line with Ramadan to create panic, which would allow another poultry producer to enter the market.

"Also as a ministry there is a way to solve issues like this without inciting public panic.

"Usually the farmer and the producer will both be called in and a plan of action will be taken to ensure the health and safety of these birds without adding financial burden to either party." The source said the ministry had the authority to demand changes or take action and there was no need to take the matter to the police.