February 2, 2012

Ukraine bans EU countries' cattle imports

Ukraine on February 1, temporarily banned imports of cattle and small ruminants from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK, the press office of the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine has reported.

The restrictions are associated with an unknown animal disease that can be caused by Schmallenberg virus.

The restrictions have been imposed "to protect Ukrainian territory against the pathogenic agent," Ivan Bisiuk, Ukraine's chief state inspector of veterinary medicine said.