THE POTENTIAL RISKS TO ANIMAL HEALTH FROM IMPORTED SHEEP AND GOAT MEAT

Alerted by outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and the swine fevers wh ich have been attributed to international trade in meat, regulators ha ve tended to adopt conservative policies with respect to the importati on of meat. However, for disease introduction to occur as a result of meat importation, a number of criteria must be satisfied. A qualitativ e assessment of the risks posed by sheep and goat meat leads to the co nclusion that, with the possible;exception of foot and mouth disease, there is little likelihood that Office International des Epizooties Li st A or List B diseases would be spread through trade in adequately ma tured meat obtained from animals which have passed veterinary ante-mor tem and post-mortem inspections.