Request for Animal Import Rejected by Cabinet
Ministry of Food Security Seeks One-Time Easing of Rules, Cites FMD Risk
Saad khan 
Islamabad: The cabinet has blocked the import of banned wildlife from Africa by turning down a proposal floated by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of National Food Security sought a one-off relaxation in the application of Pakistan Animal Quarantine Rules 1980 for the import of wildlife from Africa. The request was discussed in a recent cabinet meeting, where it was ultimately dismissed.
During the discussion, the cabinet expressed concern over the import of wild animals from an African country from which the purchase of animals was prohibited due to the risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) entering Pakistan. They highlighted the potential threat, noting that the virus strain could be different from the one existing in Pakistan, which may have serious consequences.
In response, it was explained that the animals would be quarantined prior to their entry into Pakistan. However, it was felt that the risk should be addressed, especially when the existing quarantine procedures could not be completely relied upon.
The Ministry of National Food Security stated that the Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animals and Animal Products) Rules, 1980, framed under the Pakistan Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animals and Animal Products) Ordinance, 1979, were promulgated to regulate the export and import of animals and animal products. According to Schedule-II of the rules, the import of animals with cloven hoof was prohibited from countries where SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3 serotypes of FMD were considered to be present.
The cabinet was informed that the Punjab Wildlife Department had conveyed its intent for the import of wild animals with cloven hoof 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, under the chairmanship of the minister for climate change, had already allowed the Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department of Punjab to import wild animals from African countries. However, the consignment was required to be examined and quarantined at the point of entry into Pakistan by the Animal Quarantine Department.
The Ministry revealed that the import of animals was at an advanced stage as they had already been procured and were ready to be shipped. Therefore, the cabinet was asked to consider granting a “one-time relaxation” from Schedule-II of the 1980 rules for the import of animals such as Nyala, Springbok, Blesbok, and Giraffe.
The cabinet considered a summary titled “One-time relaxation in the 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.
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