January 31, 2007

Russia resumes import of horned cattle from Canada and Switzerland

Russia has lifted a ban on horned cattle import from Canada and some Swiss cantons.

The announcement allows Canadian animals to be exported to Russia, provided they were born and grown in the territory of the country, and were supplied only from farms checked by the Canadian cattle identification agency, which can confirm absence of bovine spongiform of encephalopathy (BSE) cases at farms, reported the Russian Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision.

The agency would also resume breeding stock import from some Swiss cantons on the condition that animals must be born not earlier than 2002 and grown in the country.

In 2004, Russia imposed a ban on horned cattle import from countries where mad cow disease was registered.