China has imposed a ban on the import of sheep, goats, poultry, and even-toed ungulates from several European, African, and Asian countries, including Pakistan, due to outbreaks of various livestock diseases.
The prohibition by the world’s largest meat importer impacts countries such as Ghana, Somalia, Qatar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Bulgaria, East Timor, and Eritrea.
Moreover, China has halted imports of sheep, goats, and related products from Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh due to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox. The ban applies to both processed and unprocessed products, as noted in announcements by China’s General Administration of Customs dated January 21.
The ban also extends to even-toed ungulates and related products from Germany, following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, according to the Chinese authorities. This decision follows the release of information by the World Health Organization on disease outbreaks in various countries.
