August 28, 2007

Saudi Arabia bans British livestock imports

Saudi Arabia banned the hoofed animals from Britain's southern county of Surrey after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The ban includes cows, sheep and deer.

Britain imposed a ban on all livestock movement after a strain of foot and mouth disease was confirmed in a herd in Surrey in southern England earlier this month.

European Union veterinary experts agreed last week to resume exports of British livestock and meat products except from Surrey.

The animal health experts, representing the EU's 27 member countries, support the European Commission proposal to limit export restrictions to a surveillance zone in Surrey, 10 kilometres around the area where two outbreaks of foot and mouth disease were confirmed this month.