Rumours going around that even stricter import regulations will be implemented as from May 01 by the South African veterinary authorities are not true.
South African the borders will not be closed for exports but only that strict animal health import regulations will have to be met in order to export livestock to the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) says it continuously receives calls to verify rumours with regards to regulations pertaining to the export of livestock to South Africa.
The Department of Veterinary Services in the RSA issued a notice on April 1 this year that it would publish the import regulations for livestock from Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland into the RSA. The purpose of this publication is to enable role-players to give input on the proposed import regulations before a final decision is taken to implement. This is in line with the required consultation process that has to be followed by the Department of Veterinary Services before any regulations can be announced.
These proposed import regulations have been announced in the government gazette of the Republic of South Africa on April 17 and is now followed by a 30 day consultation period. Only after this consultation period has ended and after all inputs and recommendations have been received, will the import regulations be finalised and announced.
All role players within the livestock industry attended a special meeting on April 23 to formulate inputs and comments on the proposed import regulations. The input from Namibia will be based on the proposed guidelines of the World Animal Health Organisation and what is practically implementable in order to give the RSA the needed guarantees. Furthermore the approach remains to distinguish between slaughter and breeding livestock.
The NAU and the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) regard this matter as a priority and it receives continuous attention.