China imposes widespread ban on livestock imports over disease outbreaks

CHINA – China is enforcing a broad restriction on livestock imports from multiple African, Asian, and European nations due to recent disease outbreaks.

The General Administration of Customs issued a series of notices on January 21 confirming that the ban applies to sheep, goats, poultry, even-toed ungulates, and related products in both processed and raw forms.

Authorities took this step following reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying cases of sheep pox, goat pox, and foot-and-mouth disease in several regions.

The restriction affects livestock imports from Ghana, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Egypt in Africa.

In Asia, the ban includes Qatar, East Timor, Eritrea, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Germany and Bulgaria are the two European nations impacted by the decision.

Imports from Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have been blocked because of reported cases of sheep pox and goat pox.

Germany’s livestock trade with China is suspended after the country confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

This move is expected to disrupt livestock trade for exporting countries, potentially leading to financial losses and market shifts.

Producers and exporters must comply with China’s strict disease prevention and certification measures to regain market access.

This is not the first ban in recent years.

Last year, the country announced a ban on direct and indirect imports of pigs, wild boars, and related products from Laos following the country’s first reported outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) on June 20.

The General Administration of Customs emphasized that any pigs or related products from Laos intercepted by border defense authorities would be destroyed under customs supervision.

The disease, which had been spreading across Asia, was recently confirmed in Laos’ southern province of Saravane, as reported by the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health.

ASF, a lethal viral disease for pigs, poses no threat to human health but can have severe economic implications by causing pork shortages and trade disruptions.

With no available treatment or vaccine, prevention remains the primary defense against the virus.

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