Kazakhstan has officially received the status of the only country in Central Asia free from foot and mouth disease (FMD), according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
On May 22 in Paris, the World Assembly of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) approved that a zone of Kazakhstan, namely its North-West and Central regions, has been recognized as a zone free from FMD with vaccination.
The WOAH decision will help Kazakhstan increase the export of livestock products.
According to Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov, the FMD-free status is the result of consistent government efforts since 2024.
“Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its system for combating infectious animal diseases and confirming its high level of national veterinary security. Today, the entire country is internationally recognized as FMD-free zone with vaccination,” Saparov noted.
As a result of systemic measures implemented by the government, as well as the ongoing modernization of the national veterinary service, Kazakhstan has achieved significant results in the prevention and control of dangerous animal diseases.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2025, large-scale work was carried out to restore and secure international recognition of disease-free status for a number of animal diseases, including FMD in the South-Eastern regions of the country, highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever, classical swine fever, and African horse sickness.
This has significantly expanded the export of livestock products and opened new foreign markets.
China has opened its market to slaughtered cattle, cattle hides, and poultry from Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan has permitted the import of Kazakh camels, livestock meat, poultry, dairy products, honey, and fish. Mongolia has opened its market to live sheep. Iraq and Georgia have allowed the import of slaughtered cattle and sheep from Kazakhstan. Iran has opened its market to skins and wool of Kazakh livestock, and the countries of the European Union have allowed the import of Kazakh honey.
Photo: gov.kz
