Beijing: China has implemented a ban on the direct and indirect import of ruminants and related products from Liechtenstein following the detection of bluetongue disease in the country. The General Administration of Customs announced the decision on Tuesday via its website.
The action comes after Liechtenstein reported an outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on October 28, with three cases of bluetongue disease confirmed in the country. The customs agency published the notice on November 8, confirming the ban.
This move is part of a broader effort by China to curb the spread of the disease, as the country has previously imposed similar restrictions on imports from other nations, including North Macedonia, Italy, Iraq, Belgium, and the Netherlands, following outbreaks of the virus.
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Bluetongue disease, which is primarily transmitted by biting midges, can cause fever, mouth ulcers, and can be fatal to sheep and cattle. The disease’s impact on livestock health has prompted several nations to impose stringent import controls to prevent its spread.
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