Namibia issues further livestock, poultry suspensions
Botswana announces suspected FMD outbreak
Imports of susceptible animals, their raw products and other raw materials from Botswana have been banned, while the export of cattle to South Africa has been halted.
Namibia has suspended livestock imports from Botswana following a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
The agriculture ministry announced on Monday that imports of all FMD-susceptible animals, their raw products and other potential infectious raw materials such as straw forage, lucerne and other livestock feed from Botswana has been suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
“All previously issued veterinary import permits are hereby cancelled and recalled,” it said.
Botswana imposed a countrywide movement ban of all FMD-susceptible animals and their products, including exports to other countries until further notice. Suspected cases of the disease were detected in its north east district.
The ministry said the in-transit movement of raw livestock products and livestock feed through Botswana intended for Namibia is, however, allowed, provided that transporting vehicles are sealed.
Namibia has been importing cattle from Botswana to satisfy its beef market in Europe due to an insufficient supply of cattle for slaughter within the country.
Export restriction
The agriculture ministry recently also announced new measures that restrict the export of live cattle from Namibia into South Africa until further notice.
This follows after that country announced a 21-day nationwide ban on the movement of cattle on 16 August to curb the spread of a FMD outbreak. This means cattle may not be moved from one property to another during this period.
South Africa is Namibia’s largest market for weaner exports.
Bird flu suspension
Meanwhile, the ministry also suspended the import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds and poultry products from Spain following an outbreak of highly-contagious bird flu (HPAI) in that country.
Since the incubation period of the disease is 14 days, as set by the World Organisation for Animal, the suspension takes effect 14 days prior to the date of the start of the event, it said.
“In this case, the event was detected on 1 August; the suspension is therefore effective from 18 July.”
Consignments containing poultry products packed in their final packaging on or after the date of suspension will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer’s cost, the ministry said.
It added that a reefer container will be regarded as a consignment and will be handled as an entity.
“We will not allow cartons, such as a case of chicken meat, to be sorted according to date of production.”
The ministry further said that all previously issued import and in-transit permits have been cancelled and recalled with immediate effect.
Cooked poultry meat products for commercial purposes may still be imported into Namibia under a veterinary import permit.
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The agriculture ministry announced on Monday that imports of all FMD-susceptible animals, their raw products and other potential infectious raw materials such as straw forage, lucerne and other livestock feed from Botswana has been suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
“All previously issued veterinary import permits are hereby cancelled and recalled,” it said.
Botswana imposed a countrywide movement ban of all FMD-susceptible animals and their products, including exports to other countries until further notice. Suspected cases of the disease were detected in its north east district.
The ministry said the in-transit movement of raw livestock products and livestock feed through Botswana intended for Namibia is, however, allowed, provided that transporting vehicles are sealed.
Namibia has been importing cattle from Botswana to satisfy its beef market in Europe due to an insufficient supply of cattle for slaughter within the country.
Export restriction
The agriculture ministry recently also announced new measures that restrict the export of live cattle from Namibia into South Africa until further notice.
This follows after that country announced a 21-day nationwide ban on the movement of cattle on 16 August to curb the spread of a FMD outbreak. This means cattle may not be moved from one property to another during this period.
South Africa is Namibia’s largest market for weaner exports.
Bird flu suspension
Meanwhile, the ministry also suspended the import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds and poultry products from Spain following an outbreak of highly-contagious bird flu (HPAI) in that country.
Since the incubation period of the disease is 14 days, as set by the World Organisation for Animal, the suspension takes effect 14 days prior to the date of the start of the event, it said.
“In this case, the event was detected on 1 August; the suspension is therefore effective from 18 July.”
Consignments containing poultry products packed in their final packaging on or after the date of suspension will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer’s cost, the ministry said.
It added that a reefer container will be regarded as a consignment and will be handled as an entity.
“We will not allow cartons, such as a case of chicken meat, to be sorted according to date of production.”
The ministry further said that all previously issued import and in-transit permits have been cancelled and recalled with immediate effect.
Cooked poultry meat products for commercial purposes may still be imported into Namibia under a veterinary import permit.
[email protected]
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