BOSNIAN FEDERATION BANS IMPORT OF MEAT AND LIVESTOCK FROM CROATIA

SARAJEVO, Dec 14 (Hina) - The Agriculture Ministry of the Croat- Moslem entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday banned the import of meat products and livestock from Croatia. Bosnian Federation's Agriculture Minister Jozo Bagaric told reporters in Sarajevo the decision had been made to prevent the spreading of contagious stock diseases, with which Croatia has been facing. "This is not a counter measure to the Croatian government's decision to ban the import of meat products from the Bosnian Federation. It is about the fact that Croatia has many problems caused by livestock disease," Bagaric asserted. He recalled the Federation had made similar decisions to ban meat products from other countries, such as Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Spain and Great Britain. The decision to ban meat and stock imports from Croatia was made in cooperation with the veterinary administration of the Bosnian Serb entity. Bagaric told reporters the Bosnian Federation has not yet registered a case of mad cow's disease. This, however, does not mean the Federation will be completely spared, he stressed, recalling the long period of incubation of the disease. (hina) lml