PRESS RELEASE

BAHA KEEPING BELIZE FREE FROM ANIMAL DISEASES
Foot and Mouth, BSE (Mad Cow) still under surveillance

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) continues to enforce legislation prohibiting the importation of animals and animal products from countries affected with Foot and Mouth Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopthy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease).

While Foot and Mouth Disease and BSE (Mad Cow) are no longer making daily headline news, recent events in Japan concerning BSE and the single reported outbreak of BSE in Canada earlier this year is enough to warrant our continued alert status, both on imports and surveillance within Belize.

Even though live animals such as cattle and pigs cannot be imported from an affected country, Belizean companies can still import certain animal products from disease free areas within that country. However, before any permit is issued BAHA first needs to conduct a risk analysis of that country and of the product to be imported. This involves an assessment of the country's animal health status, its veterinary structure and the establishment of origin of the animal products. The risk analysis and approved certification guarantee that the risk of disease entering and establishing itself through importation is negligible enabling Belize to stand up to the scrutiny from other countries assessing our imports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries recently approved $10,000 from OIRSA's funds to improve disease surveillance in Belize.

These funds will be used to strengthen surveillance for Foot and Mouth Disease and BSE. It is important for Belize to obtain international recognition of its BSE free status and the funds will be used to help us attain this goal. Measures to obtain BSE free status include the ban of use of meat and bone meal for ruminant feed in country; the ban on imports of certain live animals and their products from affected countries and the ban of certain animal parts on meat for human consumption.

Importers are asked to obtain an import permit prior to placing orders for the importation of animals and their products especially from countries affected with Foot and Mouth Disease and BSE. Shipments will be confiscated at Belize ports of entries if they are not accompanied by a valid import permit from BAHA.

For more information, please contact Dr. Victor Gongora, Director of BAHA's Animal Health Department at 011-501-824-4899, or any of the BAHA veterinary officers countrywide.

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