Cabinet rejects request to import animals

Islamabad:

The Cabinet has blocked the importation of banned wildlife from Africa, rejecting a proposal by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the food safety ministry sought a one-time relaxation in the implementation of Pakistan’s animal quarantine rules of 1980 for importing wildlife from Africa.

However, a recent cabinet meeting rejected the request. During the discussion, the cabinet expressed concern about the importation of wild animals from an African country that has been banned from buying animals due to the risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) entering the country, especially when the strain of the virus could be different from that that exists in Pakistan, which can have serious consequences.

In response, it was explained that the animals would be quarantined before entering Pakistan. However, it was felt that the risk should be addressed, especially when full use could not be made of existing quarantine procedures.

The Ministry of National Food Security stated that the Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animals and Animal Products) Rules, 1980, contained in the Pakistan Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animals and Animal Products) Ordinance, 1979, were issued to regulate the exports and imports of animals and animal products.

As per Annexure-II of the rules, import of animals with cloven hoof was prohibited from countries where FMD serotypes SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 were believed to be present.

The Cabinet was informed that the Punjab Wildlife Department had conveyed its intention to import cloven-hoofed wild animals from South Africa (where SAT is endemic) for Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority chaired by the Minister for Climate Change in its meeting held on January 23, 2024 had already allowed the Department of Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries, Government of Punjab, the importation of wild animals from African countries. However, the consignment had to be examined and quarantined at the point of entry into Pakistan by the Animal Quarantine Department.

The animals would be released only after ensuring that they were disease-free as per the 1979 ordinance and 1980 rules. The ministry revealed that the importation of animals was at an advanced stage as they were already procured and ready for shipment. Therefore, the Cabinet may consider granting ‘one time relaxation’ from Schedule-II of the 1980 rules.

The animal species introduced were Nyala, Springbok, Blesbok and Giraffe.

The cabinet considered a brief titled “One time relaxation in Pakistan Animal Quarantine Rules 1980 for import of wildlife from Africa”, submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security, but did not approve the proposal.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^u2024.

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