December 7, 2007

China lifts ban on meat imports from Argentina

China lifted the ban on Argentine meat imposed last year due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Argentina's animal health service, Senasa, said that starting November 30, Argentina was permitted to resume meat export from cloven-hoofed animals such as beef, pork and lamb, to China.

In February 2006, a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Argentina led many countries to block Argentine beef imports. Since then, several other countries have lifted those bans.

In March 2007, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) declared Argentina foot-and-mouth free with vaccination, except for a small area along its northern border.