
China has imposed a ban on the import of sheep, goat, poultry, and even-toed ungulate products from multiple African, Asian, and European nations due to recent outbreaks of livestock diseases, including sheep pox, goat pox, and foot-and-mouth disease.
The prohibition, which extends to both processed and unprocessed products, follows disease outbreak alerts issued by the World Health Organization, according to announcements from China’s General Administration of Customs dated January 21.
Affected nations include Ghana, Somalia, Qatar, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Bulgaria, East Timor, and Eritrea.
Imports of sheep, goat, and related products from Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have also been halted due to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox.
Additionally, China has ceased importing even-toed ungulates and related products from Germany after a reported case of foot-and-mouth disease.
This move highlights China’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its livestock industry as the world’s largest meat importer.