CROATIA EXTENDS BAN ON IMPORT OF HOOFED ANIMALS UNTIL MARCH 31

ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - Due to new cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe, Croatia has extended a ban on the import and transport of live wild and domestic cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs until March 31, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.#L# The ban has been extended due to the outbreak of the disease in France and insufficient information on its condition in several European countries whose measures in the past few days were very similar to those taken by countries in which the disease was officially reported. The first ban on the import and transport across Croatia came into force on March 2 and expired today, the maximum period of incubation. Croatia has also banned imports of products originating from domestic and wild hoofed animals until March 20. The ban also refers to shipments crossing Croatian territory if they previously crossed countries in which foot-and-mouth disease was reported. The disease is not a hazard to humans, but can cause enormous damage in cattle-breeding as it is very contagious among animals. (hina) ha