RIYAD (Halbeeg News) – Saudi Arabia has lifted the ban on Somali livestock imports, Saudi official confirmed.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced on Sunday said the Arabian country will import livestock from the Horn of Africa nation.
“The Ministry temporarily lifted the ban on importing live meat (living livestock) from the Republic of Somalia, with the aim of strengthening local markets with imported livestock, in line with the role and responsibilities of the Ministry in ensuring food supply,” the statement by the ministry reads in part.
The ministry further said that Saudi will get more than 600 thousand sheep and 100 thousand camels.
“The livestock would arrive in the local markets, within 30 days, after the expiration of the regular quarantine period,” the ministry stated.
According to the ministry, the procedure was taken after setting all conditions for quarantine as a guarantee to protect the Kingdom from the risks of animal epidemic diseases (COVID-19).
Last October, Saudi announced a ban on importing livestock from Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti.
The ministry said the ban is a response to the announcement of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) concerning documented cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in the countries.
Somalia also exports livestock to Egypt, Oman and Yemen. However, Saudi Arabia remains the largest absorber of camels, cattle, goats and sheep from Somalia.
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