The Chinese government has announced a prohibition of imports of sheep, goat, poultry and even-toed ungulates from Nigeria and other African, Asian and European countries due to outbreaks of livestock diseases such as sheep pox, goat pox and foot-and-mouth-disease.
The ban from the world’s largest meat importer also affects Ghana, Somalia, Qatar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Egypt, Bulgaria, East Timor and Eritrea.
Furthermore, China said it stopped imports of sheep, goat and related products from Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh due to sheep pox and goat pox outbreaks.
The ban, which also includes processed and unprocessed products, comes after the World Health Organization released information of disease outbreaks in various countries, according to a series of announcements by China’s General Administration of Customs dated January 21.
China, the world’s largest meat importer, took the steps in an effort to safeguard its domestic agricultural and food industries from potential disease threats, UK’s The Tribune Express reported.
Foot-and-mouth disease, in particular, can spread rapidly and cause significant damage to livestock herds, posing risks to both animal health and public safety. The country’s authorities have stated that the bans are essential for protecting China’s food security and maintaining public confidence in its agricultural sector.
The actions, it said, are part of ongoing measures to ensure that China’s livestock industry remains free from diseases that could undermine both animal health and the wider economy.
While the bans are not expected to significantly impact China’s food supply in the short term, they will likely disrupt global trade, particularly for countries that are major exporters of livestock products to China, the report added.
The country had previously imposed similar restrictions when disease outbreaks occurred in other regions and the latest measures underline China’s commitment to maintaining strict biosecurity standards, it stressed.
The General Administration of Customs in the country noted that it would continue to monitor global disease outbreaks and adjust its import policies accordingly.
Experts say the country will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to prevent any disease from spreading to its own agricultural systems, given the potential economic consequences of not acting in a timely manner.
