France being a “Negligible Risk “country, is free to export live cattle and meat to Pakistan. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan in a meeting with French ambassador HE Martine Dorance. Matters of mutual interest and especially ban lift on import of live cattle and bovine meat from France to Pakistan came under discussion.
The Minister highlighted that import of live animals was banned from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) infected countries since June 2001 that included France as well. The policy was revised in 2014 and import of live cattle from countries declared as “Negligible Risk” by International Animal Health Organization (OIE) was allowed. This is subjected to condition that animals come from such herds where no incidence of BSE has been reported for the last eleven years. The minister reiterated that import of live cattle is allowed from 41 BSE Negligible Risk countries including France, but the exporting country need to certify above mentioned conditions first.
The Minister further stated that meat could be exported to Pakistan only after fulfilling health/sanitary and halal certification as per OIE guidelines and international standards. Pakistan imports more than 5-6 thousand dairy cows annually and offers equal opportunities to all BSE Negligible countries.
Joint ventures in farm mechanization and vaccine development were also discussed. The minister expressed deep grief on the Paris tragedy and extended full support to the French people. The ambassador thanked the minister for his kind words and praised the response from Pakistani government and people in wake of Paris bombings.
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