German Ambassador Ms. Ina Lepel called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research on August 4 here in Islamabad. Various issues and prospects relating to agriculture machinery and livestock are discussed. The Federal Minister discussed about the available market and the importance of livestock for Pakistan’s economy. The matter of import of live animals from Germany to Pakistan was discussed. The import of animals due to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) infection is banned since 2001 from certain countries including Germany, however the Pakistan Government revised the policy in 2014 and lifted the ban on import of live cattle from few countries which were declared “negligible risk” by International Animal Health Organization (IAHO) and subjected to the other conditions as well. Germany however, still is in the list of banned countries and cannot export its animals to Pakistan. The German Ambassador desired to confirm its current status from International Animal Health Organization. Once Germany is classified as BSE negligible risk country by the OIE, then the harmonization certificate would be needed to start the export of live animals from Germany to Pakistan.
Federal Minister further said Pakistan is a very vibrant market and we are driving to revolutionize through the import of exotic dairy animals and others. This will help to boost the production of meat and milk.
Pakistan is world’s fifth largest milk producing country & German ambassador appreciated and wondered if Pakistan is exporting milk. The Minister further said that the government is supporting Subsistence Dairy Farming, Peri Urban Dairy Farming and the market that caters to the consumers of processed milk. The Federal Minster asked the German Ambassador to secure the desired status from OIE, then it will have easier access to Pakistan’s livestock market.
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