Iran lifts its ban on heifer exports while the potato export ban stays in place until year end

Rouhollah Zahmatkesh, deputy minister for livestock affairs at Iran's Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, announced on Wednesday 7 Mordad 1405 (29 July 2026) that the ban on exporting heifers has been lifted, alongside the ban on chicken meat. The announcement was made at the opening of the second specialised livestock, poultry and dairy exhibition at the Shahr e Aftab exhibition ground, attended by ministry managers and industry associations.

According to Mehr News Agency, export bans had previously been lifted on 15 agricultural products including strawberries, chicken feet and seedless raisins. Potato exports, however, remain banned until the end of the year 1405 because per capita consumption in the country has risen.

A heifer is a young female cow that has not yet calved and forms the base of dairy herds, so a decision on exporting them affects both the live animal market and milk production capacity in the years ahead.