China has banned imports of sheep, goats, poultry, and related products from several countries, including Pakistan, due to outbreaks of livestock diseases such as sheep pox and goat pox.
The decision was announced by China’s General Administration of Customs on January 21, following reports from the World Health Organization about disease outbreaks in various regions.
The ban targets both processed and unprocessed products from affected countries. Pakistan, along with Palestine, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, has been included in the list of nations restricted due to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox.
China, the world’s largest meat importer, has also prohibited imports from countries like Ghana, Somalia, Qatar, and Tanzania over similar concerns, while Germany faces restrictions following a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.