Syria says it exported 230,000 sheep this year

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's Animal Health and Production Department under the Ministry of Agriculture said sheep are kept in quarantine for at least 21 days before export. Department Director Abdul Hay Yusuf said all animals are tested at state-approved veterinary laboratories before shipment. Yusuf said no outbreak cases have been recorded recently. He added that about 230,000 sheep have been exported from Syria this year through land and sea border crossings. He said the main markets are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Algeria. Yusuf also said the department is ready to receive international delegations and prepare files documenting Syria's status as free of livestock diseases.