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Authorities lift restrictions on import of animals from EU over virus outbreaks

The agriculture ministry's Department for Veterinary and Food Control has lifted restrictions imposed on the import and transit of domestic and wild animals from some European Union countries over outbreaks of Schmallenberg virus.

In particular, restrictions have been lifted on the import of domestic and wild ruminant animals from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.

Temporary restrictions on the import of cattle and hogs from European Union countries over the infectious disease have also been removed, BelaPAN said.

The virus was discovered in Germany in late 2011. There is no vaccine or treatment for the infectious disease so far. The virus has already spread across much of the European Union.