France is considering resuming the shipment of cows to the livestock market in Algeria

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A French diplomatic source reported on Monday, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, that Paris is seeking to resume shipping cows to Algeria.

The French Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Agriculture refused to respond to the question about the reason for the disruption of the livestock market, while a French diplomatic source indicated that work is underway to discuss ways to reopen the Algerian market.

Algeria had stopped importing live calves and cows coming from France following the appearance of symptoms of “epidemic hemorrhagic disease” on imported livestock. Since then, Algeria has not purchased any French livestock after it was the main buyer through the port of Sète, and this percentage was 80% in the year 2022.

Jerome Larocque, a livestock trader who chartered a ship to transport about 800 calves to his clients in Tunisia via the port of Sete, says: “We buy them, vaccinate them and sell them, as it has become necessary to ensure that they do not carry the epidemic hemorrhagic disease that is transmitted through mosquito bites.”

The disease, which was discovered in France last September, did not cause any health disasters. It is not transmitted to humans and is rarely fatal to livestock. However, it has negatively affected trade, especially since international exchanges are subject to new restrictions.

Laurent Tremoli, who is responsible for one of the livestock passage areas in the port of Sète, affiliated with the French Association for Beef, Exporters and Shipping Agents, pointed out that more than 100,000 heads of cows and tens of thousands of sheep usually pass through the port annually, but now it is empty of livestock.

Tremoli added: "Only one boat passes every ten days, while the number of ships ranges between two and three per week."

According to a report issued by FranceAgriMer, the government agency responsible for agriculture and marine products, livestock exports outside the European Union are “highly sensitive to diplomatic and geopolitical risks,” especially since France has volatile relations with its former colony.