China bans animal imports from Bulgaria

China has imposed a complete ban on the import of sheep, goats, poultry, equidae and related products from several African, Asian and European countries, including Bulgaria. The decision was taken following reports of the spread of contagious animal diseases, such as sheep and goat pox, as well as foot-and-mouth disease. The countries affected include Ghana, Somalia, Egypt, East Timor, Eritrea, as well as Palestine, Afghanistan and Pakistan, writes straitstimes.com. The ban covers both live animals and processed and unprocessed products from them. The reason for the restrictions are warnings issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which signal outbreaks of diseases in the mentioned countries. Chinese customs authorities issued a series of official announcements on January 21, justifying the reasons for the measure. This step puts Bulgaria in a complicated situation, as the restrictions are likely to have an impact on the export of agricultural products ...