Turkey Lifts Ban on U.S. Cattle

November 24, 1999

Turkey has lifted a three-year embargo on U.S. cattle and will resume importing immediately. Turkey suffered an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in August 1996 and banned U.S. cattle to avoid introducing healthy cattle into infected regions.

"Over the next year and a half we expect to export 10,000-14,000 cattle to Turkey at approximately $2,200 a head," says Michael V. Dunn, USDA's under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. "This is a renewed opportunity for the U.S. cattle industry."

In reopening the market, Turkey agreed to a new set of import health requirements that the U.S. livestock industry supports, according to USDA. All cattle imported by Turkey also will be vaccinated for FMD during the shipping process.

FMD is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and hogs. The virus causes blisters on the mouth or feet of infected animals, can lead to reduced milk production and abortion, and causes death in most newborn animals.