There were illegal exports of around 250,000 cows and buffaloes  to Thailand during three fiscal years, said  Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Commerce.

The deputy minister replied to the question raised by lower house MP Tun Thu from Pwintphyu Constituency, on “how the Union government and region and state governments manage the exports of cows and buffaloes,” at the session of lower house parliament in Nay Pyi Taw on November 28.

“According to the figures from Customs Department in Mae Sot of Thailand, Myanmar illegally exported about 84,689 cattle in 2015-2016 FY, 61,449 in 2016-2017 FY and 86,466 in 2017-2018 FY. There are illegal exports of cattle to China and Bangladesh according to the ground news, he added.

From December, 2017 to November 16, 2018, Myanmar allowed exports of 215,333 cattle worth US$ 261.264 million. Coordination is being made to sign a MoU between the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) in Yunnan and Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department in Myanmar, to export cattle to China.

With the aim of increasing export incomes and tax revenues, controlling transborder infectious diseases and helping support the livelihood of families, the Commerce Ministry officially allowed exports of live cows and buffaloes, with the notification issued on October 9, 2017.