One of the states of Germany introduced a ban on the export of livestock to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

The Land of Brandenburg has imposed a ban on the supply of livestock to Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation. 

The Brandenburg Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection (MSGIV) attributed the ban to animal welfare requirements for cross-border transport along the entire route.

The situation is becoming unpredictable due to obstacles in the form of military convoys, traffic jams, refugee flows and lost communication channels between the EU and Russia. Logistical failures do not exclude long-term downtime for trucks when borders are closed. 

Under such conditions, it is impossible to guarantee that animals will not experience pain and suffering, said MSGIV State Secretary Anna Heyer-Stuffer. Deliveries of cattle, sheep and pigs, including transit through the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (except for the Kaliningrad region) are suspended until further notice, she stated.

The MSGIV press release notes that Russia has so far been Brandenburg's biggest livestock export market. For example, in January-September 2021, 79% of farm animals exported outside this administrative unit of Germany were sent to the Russian Federation.