Bangladesh slaps restriction on meat import
Bangladesh has restricted the import of meat as a precautionary measure amid global concerns of mad-cow disease outbreak, officials said on Sunday.
By PTI |
DHAKA: Bangladesh has restricted the import of meat as a precautionary measure amid global concerns of mad-cow disease outbreak, officials said here on Sunday.
Customs authorities were alerted against the possible risks from meat imports from countries already affected by or exposed to the disease as the fisheries and livestock ministry slapped the restriction earlier this week.
"The restriction was enforced as Bangladeshi traders will risk losing export opportunities of animal bones, horn, hoof and so on if any meat consignment proved mad cow positive," an official of the ministry said.
Currently, animal bone exporters are required to take mad-cow-free clearance certificates from the World Organisation For Animal Health.
Bangladeshi importers so far required no prior permission for meat imports, mainly for five-star hotels and a few fast-food chain shops.
Scientifically called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, the mad cow disease has already affected several countries including US, resulting in cancellation of export orders from countries like Japan.
It is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease for the cattle and causes harm to brains and spinal cords of human beings in case of consumption of meat of affected animals.
The disease had claimed 163 lives in Britain and 37 elsewhere till April 2008, according to reports that forecast further rise in the casualties because of the long incubation period of the disease.
Officials said some 2,000 samples of cattle heads have so far been examined at Bangladesh Agriculture University, but no mad cow disease was detected but the importers were asked not to import meats from mad cow disease-affected countries.
Customs authorities were alerted against the possible risks from meat imports from countries already affected by or exposed to the disease as the fisheries and livestock ministry slapped the restriction earlier this week.
"The restriction was enforced as Bangladeshi traders will risk losing export opportunities of animal bones, horn, hoof and so on if any meat consignment proved mad cow positive," an official of the ministry said.
Currently, animal bone exporters are required to take mad-cow-free clearance certificates from the World Organisation For Animal Health.
Bangladeshi importers so far required no prior permission for meat imports, mainly for five-star hotels and a few fast-food chain shops.
Scientifically called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, the mad cow disease has already affected several countries including US, resulting in cancellation of export orders from countries like Japan.
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It is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease for the cattle and causes harm to brains and spinal cords of human beings in case of consumption of meat of affected animals.
The disease had claimed 163 lives in Britain and 37 elsewhere till April 2008, according to reports that forecast further rise in the casualties because of the long incubation period of the disease.
Officials said some 2,000 samples of cattle heads have so far been examined at Bangladesh Agriculture University, but no mad cow disease was detected but the importers were asked not to import meats from mad cow disease-affected countries.
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