The Gulf nation of Qatar has temporarily banned imports of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuces from Spain and Germany because of concerns about a deadly strain of E. coli. All other fresh fruit and vegetable shipments from Europe must carry a health certificate declaring they are free of the bacteria.
Qatar added that it will ``not hesitate to ban all vegetable imports from Europe if that is necessary to preserve the people's health in Qatar.' Qatar's Supreme Council of Health said the decision was made during an emergency meeting of the country's food control committee on Thursday, the official Qatar News Agency reported Saturday.
The neighboring United Arab Emirates last week banned cucumber imports from Spain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands because of concerns about the illness that has killed at least 18 people.
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