`Bulgaria is allowed to export cattle, sheep and goats to European Union member states in pursuance to Decision 2001/600/EC of the European Commission, published Friday`, the Ministry of Agriculture announced. Some restrictive measures concerning livestock originating from or passing through several districts in Southern Bulgaria (Jambol, Haskovo, Kurdjali and Burgas) remain. The restriction was necessitated by the proximity of the four districts with Greece and Turkey and the risk for infected animals to cross over from there. The restrictions will be completely removed in late 2001 at the earliest, after the expiration of the mandatory 2-year quarantine, which begins on the day of the last registration of a bluetongue case. The standing veterinary committee of the European Commission came up with a prescription for lifting the ban back in early June 2001 and the technical procedure for the adoption of the decision by the Commission was finalized July 17. `The decision is recognition of the high quality of veterinary and sanitary controls and is a proof that Bulgaria now has the capacity to act as external veterinary border of the EU`, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.