Import of cattle, sheep from Romania banned

AMMAN — The Agriculture Ministry on Saturday announced a ban on the import of cattle and sheep from Romania, where cases of bluetongue disease were reported.

“The ministry restricted the import of cattle and sheep from Romania after the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE] announced new cases of bluetongue disease on its website,” Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times

Haddadin said the “precautionary measure seeks to protect the country’s animals from the infectious disease”, stressing that no bluetongue disease cases have ever been registered in the Kingdom.

“The restriction means that import licences issued to traders... are no longer valid. In addition, no more licences will be issued for cattle imports from Romania,” the official highlighted.

Haddadin said the import ban will remain in place until the country is declared free of the disease.

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, viral disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants (primarily sheep and including cattle, goats, buffalo, antelope, deer, elk and camels) that is transmitted by insects, particularly biting midges of the Culicoides species, according to the OIE website.

There is no public health risk associated with bluetongue disease, which is listed under the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the organisation said on its website.

“Jordan imports cattle and sheep mainly from Australia, followed by Romania and then Sudan,” Haddadin said.

Jordan exports vegetables and fruits to Romania, from where it imports wheat and corn, besides sheep and cattle.