The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) is preparing to gradually resume livestock procurement and slaughter activities following the partial easing of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions, days after the outbreak forced it to suspend slaughter and further beef exports.
Meatco Board Chairperson Stephanie De Klerk said the company would align its procurement, slaughter and market activities with revised requirements issued by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS).
“Meatco will continue to cooperate fully with the DVS and other stakeholders and will align its procurement, slaughter and market activities with the applicable veterinary requirements,” De Klerk said.
The revised measures allow slaughter at registered abattoirs under prescribed veterinary and biosecurity conditions in areas south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, excluding the //Kharas Region, where the FMD outbreak remains localised.
The easing follows intensified surveillance, livestock inspections and tracing after FMD was detected in the Karasburg Veterinary District.
Livestock that had been moved from the infected farm to the Otjozondjupa Region before the outbreak was detected were subsequently traced and tested negative for FMD.
De Klerk said the developments demonstrated Namibia’s ability to respond to animal disease outbreaks while progressively restoring parts of the livestock value chain.
“As an export-oriented beef industry, Namibia depends on the continued credibility of these systems. They are essential not only for disease control but also for protecting producer and employee livelihoods, safeguarding our national herd and sustaining confidence in Namibian beef in domestic and international markets,” she said.
Meatco urged producers and other livestock industry stakeholders to remain vigilant and comply with veterinary measures as authorities continue surveillance and containment efforts.
The partial reopening comes after Meatco suspended slaughter operations and further beef exports following confirmation of the outbreak last week.
At the time, Meatco said it was complying with the national restrictions while assessing their operational and financial implications.
The company also began assessing the status of beef consignments that had already been exported, shipped or were in transit before the outbreak was confirmed.
Meatco said it was consulting veterinary authorities, logistics providers, customers and importing markets to establish how those consignments would be treated.
While domestic slaughter can now gradually resume under specified conditions, the status of Meatco’s affected export arrangements remains dependent on veterinary requirements and decisions by importing markets.
