Georgia introduces livestock checkpoints to eradicate diseases

The new Bio Security Points were established on the Animal Movement Routes in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region. Photo by the National Food Agency.

Agenda.ge, 23 May 2016 - 18:50, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia is taking a major step forward by laying the foundation to allow Georgian livestock products to enter the European Union (EU).

From today hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle will go through disinfection procedures during their annual migration at new Bio Security Points, which were launched to control livestock diseases.

The new Bio Security Points were established on Animal Movement Routes in Marneuli and Rustavi, in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region.

Animal Movement Routes are used by over a million sheep and cattle each year as they move from winter pastures in Georgia’s Kakheti region to summer pastures in Samstkhe Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Tusheti regions.

The new Bio Security Points were established on Animal Movement Routes in Marneuli and Rustavi, in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region. Photo by the National Food Agency.

The Bio Security Points are concreted, fenced areas with sheep dipping baths and cattle showers where animals undergo disinfection. The Bio Security Points also feature quarantine zones, storage buildings for disinfection facilities and water points for sheep and cattle.

The Bio Security Points were built to serve on average 8,000 livestock.

Veterinaries of the National Food Agency will monitor the Bio Security Points and their usage by livestock.

Veterinaries of the National Food Agency will monitor the Bio Security Points and their usage by livestock. Photo by the National Food Agency.

Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Mercy Corps Georgia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2015 to establish the Bio Security Points along the Animal Movement Routes.

Earlier the Animal Movement Route was identified as a key constraint for development of the Georgia’s sheep sector and as the main source for spreading animal diseases. These Bio Security Points aim to tackle this growing problem and ensure the health of Georgia’s livestock.