Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq prevented the entry of 1,750 imported calves throughthe Trebil border crossing after detecting concerns related to Foot-and-Mouth Disease(FMD), Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry said Agriculture Minister AbdulAmir al-Shammari ordered the ban on the shipment of live calves imported forslaughter from Colombia, citing the need to “safeguard Iraq’s animal wealthfrom infectious and potentially devastating diseases.”
The decision followed regulatory procedures carried out bythe Veterinary Directorate, which implemented precautionary measures aimed atpreventing the spread of animal diseases and protecting livestock populations.
Al-Shammari stressed the importance of intensifying effortsto develop Iraq’s livestock sector through scientific methods and by addressingoperational challenges facing the industry. He said the ministry is working tosupport local markets with meat sourced from approved and reliable supplierswhile preventing the entry of infected animals to protect public health andsupport the national economy.
On May 22, Iraq’s Veterinary Directorate announced strictprecautionary measures after receiving information about reported cases offoot-and-mouth disease in Syria’s Raqqa province. At the time, the directorate said it had raisedepidemiological monitoring to its highest level and instructed veterinaryhospitals at border crossings and across the country to strengthen inspectionsof incoming animals and immediately report any suspected infections.