Saudi Arabia lifts ban on Sudan’s livestock

August 19, 2009 (RIYADH) — Saudi Arabia has lifted a temporary ban imposed on the import of all types of live animals from Sudan after an outbreak of Rift Valley fever.

Rift Valley Fever is a diseases caused by a mosquito-borne virus that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

The lift decision is prompted by a number of conditions including the exporting animals shall be quarantined in approved Sudanese quarantines of Alkdro and Port-Sudan for 21 days; examination of animals before exporting them to make sure that they are free from diseases; and animals shall be given vaccines “Smith Burn” used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi ministry of agriculture also affirmed that the law of animal quarantine of The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states shall be applied to all animal imports from Sudan.

The Kingdom imports over 1.5 million head of livestock a year from Sudan.

(ST)