EU suspends some Namibian meat imports over FMD outbreak
The European Union has temporarily suspended imports of fresh meat from cattle, sheep and goats, as well as certain other products from Namibia’s previously foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zone.
The restrictions, published in the EU’s Official Journal on Monday, follow Namibia’s first confirmed FMD outbreak on 23 September on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in //Kharas Region.
The suspension also covers fresh meat from relevant farmed and wild ungulates and certain processed meat products, including biltong. Processed meat that has undergone the prescribed highest-level risk-mitigating treatment remains eligible for entry into the EU.
The EU said consignments of fresh ungulate meat certified by Namibian authorities before 23 Septemb
er should be allowed into the EU for 90 days from that date, subject to EU legislation and border-control decisions.
The EU said the measures were precautionary and in line with international animal-health standards.
It commended Namibia for its swift notification of the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and for introducing movement controls and an export ban on cloven-hoofed animals and their products.
EU Ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins said the EU would continue working with Namibia to contain the outbreak and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
The restrictions do not affect Namibia’s preferential trade access under the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement, the EU said. They apply specifically to animal-health requirements for affected products.
The EU will continue to assess the epidemiological situation and review the measures as conditions allow.
