RI bans Argentine grains

RI bans Argentine grains

JAKARTA (Reuters): Indonesia said on Tuesday it had
temporarily banned imports of corn, soymeal and soybeans from
Argentina because of fears of foot and mouth disease.

Director of veterinary health at the Agriculture Ministry,
Bachtiar Moerad, told Reuters the ban, which also applies to
European imports, had been imposed because there had been a foot-
and-mouth outbreak in Argentina.

"Imports of raw material for animal feed or animal feed
itself, including those from plants, from countries where there
is a (foot-and-mouth) disease outbreak, are not allowed," Moerad
said.

"Any imports of those products have to be quarantined. The ban
is temporary and we are going to review it by the end of this
month."

Although the ban technically applies to Europe, Indonesia does
not import corn, soymeal or soybeans from there.

The ban will be lifted if tests prove the products clean.