Government ups attempts to legalise livestock trade with neighbours

The government is upping attempts to regulate the livestock trade between Myanmar and its neighbours.

About 100,000 cattle are illegally exported to Thailand every year, said U Khin Maung Lwin, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.

Official customs data from Thailand have no record of the number of cattle entering the country from Myanmar, but there are some records in Mae Sot, Thailand. According to that data, some 100,000 cattle are exported illegally to Thailand every year via border routes.

Aside from the records in Mae Sot, there is no data from the other border towns and thus the exact figures of illegal cattle export cannot be known, U Khin Maung Lwin said.

But cattle have also been illegally exported to China, a source from Muse in Shan State, which borders Yunnan province, told The Myanmar Times.

For decades in fact, illegal livestock traders from as far as Central Myanmar have trekked for weeks with their cattle to sell them at the China border, according to local guides.

Now, the government is making efforts to address the issue. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Commerce released an official statement allowing live cattle exports with an aim to prevent illegal export and to create a free market.

"The attempts are meant to legalise cattle trade in accordance with the procedures of Veterinary Department in order to increase the State's revenue,” he said.

According to the statement, live cattle export will also be allowed in accordance with rules and regulations with an aim to create job opportunities for the breeders and to protect their interests.

This has been allowed since October 9 but as at October 16, there have not been any export license applications yet.

That’s because the legal way to trade involves tedious procedures that may well deter traders Cattle exporters will have to send their animals for medical examinations by the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

.They must also comply with the necessary procedures for border crossing in line with regulations stipulated by the Department of Trade under the Ministry of Commerce.

"According to the [Veterinary Department] procedures, the rules describe how to export; how to collect; how to have medical examination," U Khin Maung Lwin said.

After a certificate is issued by Veterinary Department, the Ministry of Commerce will issue an export license.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/government-ups-efforts-legalise-livestock-trade.html )

​