Iran has halted the import of German meat for fears of mad cow disease that has spread to several European Union countries, reported Tehran Times newspaper, quoting an official at the state veterinary organization (SVO).
Head of the organization, Samad Yeganeh, said the before the spread of the disease, Iran signed a contract for importing 4,300 tons of red meat from Germany.
"To prevent the flow of infected cattle to Iran, illegal cattle will be segregated from the rest and vaccinated against different kinds of disease."
He said that the recent severe drought in Afghanistan has resulted in the smuggling of thousands of livestock to Iran via southeastern cities of Zabol and Zahedan, according to the daily.
The paper said the Taliban movement had purchased the infected cattle from Pakistan which had imported them from Europe.
More than 80 people have died in Britain, and two in France from mad cow disease, which is also called bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), according to the daily.
The number of countries imposing bans on beef imports from Europe is on the rise.
Several Gulf countries have banned importing beef from Europe recently -- Albawaba.com
