The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban on importing cows from Spain, following the detection of mad cow disease in some farms in the country.

The ministry imposed the ban after receiving a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health confirming an emergence of the disease in Spain, Dr Sanad Al-Harbi, director-general of the Department of Animal Risk Assessment was quoted as saying by Emirates news agency Wam, which cited a statement from the Saudi Press Agency.