ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce on Friday notified lifting of ban on import of livestock.

Pakistan imposed the ban in 2001, owing to risks from Bovine Spongiform Enceph­alopathy (BSE), commonly known as ‘mad cow disease’.

The import of live animals will be allowed from countries declared as having ‘negligible risk’ by the World Animal Health Organisation, excluding Israel. According to the order, the ban will be retained on the import of feeds containing meat, bone meal and greaves derived from BSE-infected animals.

Animals from herds where no incidence of BSE reported for the last 11 years, and those duly certified by the veterinary authority of the exporting country can be imported.

Published in Dawn, July 19th , 2014