Windhoek
Namibia’s beef industry has made a historic breakthrough in the largest consumer market on the planet. This is after the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), signed a protocol with the Chinese government on August 3 to agree on the operational details for Namibia to export beef to the most populated country in the world.
The protocol, dealing with veterinary health conditions and quarantine for the actual and practical exportation of Namibian beef to China, was signed in Beijing.
The Chinese market will allow for the importation of bone-in beef provided that the animals slaughtered and the beef processed are certified at an export-approved slaughterhouse or abattoir under the auspices of the Directorate of Veterinary Services in the MAWF.
“The fact that Namibia can export bone-in beef will most certainly allow the country’s producers to send bigger volumes of beef at an expected much lower processing cost into the Chinese market. Hopefully, producers ought to get more money for their cattle,” said Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, at the announcement yesterday.
He added that through efforts such as the recently signed protocol, the government will continue to create the necessary conducive business environment for all entrepreneurs and business people to take advantage of such opportunities, as long as they agree and conform to export requirements. “I want to emphatically stress that this new China market is open for all Namibians who wish to export beef to China and not for certain companies or individuals only,” Mutorwa emphasized.
He explained that cattle to be slaughtered for export to China should be born and reared in the FMD-free zone where vaccination is not practiced and must bear a unique identification mark. Cattle should also be able to be traced back to the farm of origin.
In addition, cattle for export should come from a farm that has not introduced any cloven-hooved animals from regions other than FMD-free zones and animals should be resident on the respective farms for at least six days prior to slaughter.
Furthermore, the animals should not have been vaccinated against anthrax, using live vaccine, for at least 14 days prior to slaughter and should not have been fed with any materials originating from a ruminant, except milk, and never used veterinary medicine and feed additives prohibited by Namibia or China.