ISLAMABAD: French Ambassador Martine Dorance Wednesday called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan and discussed matters of mutual interest, especially lifting of ban on import of live cattle and bovine meat from France to Pakistan.
The minister said that France being a “negligible risk country” was free to export live cattle and meat to Pakistan. He 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, he said, was revised in 2014 and import of live cattle from countries declared as “Negligible Risk” by International Animal Health Organization (OIE) was allowed.
However, this was subjected to the condition that animals come from such herds where no incidence of BSE has been reported for the last 11 years, he added. The minister reiterated that import of live cattle was allowed from 41 BSE Negligible Risk countries, including France, but the exporting country would have to certify above mentioned condition.
The meat, he said, could be exported to Pakistan only after fulfilling health/sanitary and Halal certification as per OIE guidelines and international standards.
Bosan said Pakistan imported over 6,000 dairy cows annually and offered equal opportunities to all BSE Negligible Risk countries. Joint ventures in farm mechanization and vaccine development were also discussed in the meeting.
The minister expressed deep grief on the Paris tragedy and extended full support to the French people. The French Ambassador praised the response from the Pakistani government and people in wake of Paris bombings.
