The National Food Safety Agency (NFA) started a series of inspections at animal dealers to determine the origin of animals and how the normative framework on animal health and registration is obeyed, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the institution.

The inspections will be carried out unexpectedly in different periods and will cover private individuals who transport animals, farms and slaughterhouses, animal trade fairs and other places where cows, pigs, sheep and other animals are kept.

The illicit transportation of animals can lead to the appearance of such diseases as African swine fever, avian influenza and rabies and the sale of infected meat can pose risks to human health. Therefore, the Agency calls on the citizens not to buy animals with sanitary veterinary certificates and food products from unauthorized places.

The inspections form part of a complex animal traceability plan aimed at combating illegal buying, transportation and sale of animals.