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Melilla Considers Ban on Moroccan Livestock Imports Amid Foot-and-Mouth Disease Concerns
Monday 11 February 2019, by
The authorities of the city of Melilla are considering again this year to ban the import of cattle from Morocco due to the cases of foot-and-mouth disease reported in the country. Last year, a similar decision had already been made for the Eid Al Adha festival.
In a statement to journalists, the Health official of the autonomous city stated that a decision could be made soon to ban the import of some 6,000 cattle intended for Muslim families in Melilla. He recalled that since January 10, the Moroccan health authorities have reported several cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the north of the country, particularly in Tangier, Al Hoceima and Tetouan, a first since 2015.
The political official also explained that the 2015 circular regulating the import of cattle due to foot-and-mouth disease is still in force today, prohibiting all Muslim families in the city from importing cattle from Morocco for the past 3 years.
Furthermore, the local authorities could also take other measures to prevent this disease from affecting the city’s cattle, the official said.