March 8, 2012

Kazakhstan restricts European cattle imports

In connection with the emergence of the outbreak of a disease caused by Schmallenberg virus, Kazakhstan has introduced a temporary ban on the import of cattle from a number of European countries, the press service of the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry reported on Wednesday (Mar 7).

The restrictions will be in effect from February this year. Specifically, the import of cattle was banned from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France - where "numerous outbreaks of previously unknown disease caused by Schmallenberg virus", which is named after the name of a German city, in which it was first spotted in August 2011, were registered-, the report by the press service says.

The restrictions are also in effect for the import of sheep and goats from France. The information about the ban on the import of cattle has been brought to the notice of those involved in the foreign economic activities, to all the structural subdivisions of the committee of veterinary monitoring and supervision of the ministry and the interested state bodies, the press service notes.