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France Temporarily Halts Live Cattle Exports Nationwide as Disease Outbreak Widens

Officials say the pause seeks to preempt tougher EU limits after new clusters appeared far from the initial epicenter.

Overview

  • The government suspended live bovine exports and banned cattle gatherings nationwide for roughly two weeks, with initial statements citing 15 days and later reports indicating 17 days with a target restart around November 4.
  • Authorities report about 86 affected farms since the start of the year, with nearly 2,000 animals culled since June as part of containment efforts.
  • Vaccination is being expanded with up to 800,000 doses ordered, and officials say it will be imposed on holdouts alongside tighter movement controls and possible penalties.
  • Producers and unions denounce the abrupt, unconsulted decision and seek exemptions for vaccinated young bovines, warning of heavy losses during peak exports to Spain and Italy.
  • Officials point to newly detected clusters in departments such as Jura, Ain, Rhône and Pyrénées-Orientales, and the ban also pauses bovine events including Camargue taurine activities through early November.