The French Department of Agriculture has announced that Turkey had reopened to French live exports after a two-year closed period due to the bluetongue outbreak that has disrupted France’s cattle sector since September 2015.

Strict export conditions remain including systematic vaccination and testing, quarantine, protection against the flies carrying bluetongue and the exclusion of cattle from infected areas. Industry sources say these will severely restrict French live shipments to Turkey for the near future.

France only had brief access to Turkey in 2015, but shipped a massive 80,000 head that year. Ireland, in turn, obtained Turkish access last year and has exported 24,000 weanlings there so far this year, according to the latest Bord Bia figures.

Turkey imports 400,000 live cattle annually.

IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said Irish exports continue to Turkey with further boat loads in the pipeline and heifers currently being purchased. He said exporters are continuing to work on a new contract.

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