Windhoek
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) has appealed to all communal farmers to adhere to a new set of rules after the lifting of the movement restrictions for FMD last week.
The new rules entail the following:
Movement of animals, animal products and other materials within the FMD protection zone (areas of the NCAs west of Shamangorwa veterinary fence, to Kunene north) is allowed, accompanied by a veterinary movement permit, issued by DVS (Directorate of Veterinary Services).
Movement of animals, animal products and other materials within the FMD infected zone (areas of NCAs east of Shamangorwa veterinary fence and Zambezi Region) is allowed, accompanied by a veterinary movement permit, issued by DVS.
Movement of animals, animal products and other materials from the protection zone to infected zone is allowed, accompanied by or with a veterinary movement permit, issued by DVS.
Movement of live animals and animal products from the FMD protection zone and from the FMD infected zone to the rest of the country is not allowed, except: matured, deboned beef from export approved abattoirs and processed trophies, processed hides and processed skins, as well as other processed animal products.
The movement of animals from the FMD protection and FMD infected zones to the FMD free zone; as well as from the FMD infected zone to the FMD protection zone, is not allowed.
The movement of thatch grass within the protection zone and from north to south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF) is allowed.
Movements of fodder, hay, sorghum or maize stalks from north to south of VCF is allowed from approved GRN green scheme farms, after quarantine.
Movement of hides, skins and game trophies to other parts of Namibia is allowed, after quarantine.
Movement of livestock, livestock products and other potentially infectious materials, e.g. thatch grass, biological samples, fodder etc., from any country to Namibia is allowed on condition that it is accompanied by a veterinary import permit, issued by DVS and administered by official veterinary services of that particular country.
ROADBLOCKS
Roadblocks that were set up at various strategic points to enforce the movement restrictions of animals, animal products and other potentially infectious materials in the NCAs will now cease.
Decontamination of vehicle tyres and searching of vehicles for prohibited potentially infectious materials at the veterinary check points remain in force.
VACCINATION
AGAINST FMD
Vaccination against FMD in the entire Ohangwena Region, part of Oshikoto Region and in an identified 30km strip south of the Namibian-Angolan border in the Kunene Region, Omusati Region and Kavango West Region, will continue.
All cattle owners in the mentioned areas are urged to present their cattle for vaccination, whenever and wherever they are requested to do so by the veterinary authorities.
SURVEILLANCE AND
REPORTING
DVS surveillance teams will continue to remain on the ground to inspect livestock and also to ensure that suspicious cases are thoroughly and immediately investigated. Livestock owners are requested to keep on reporting any suspicious cases of animal diseases to the nearest veterinary office(s).
RESUMPTION OF SLAUGHTER OF CATTLE AT EXPORT APPROVED ABATTOIRS IN THE NCAS.
The movement of animals to export approved abattoirs and the actual slaughter of such animals at Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs in the Oshana and Zambezi Regions is hereby authorised.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANGOLA/NAMIBIA BORDER FENCE
In terms of the provisions of the relevant Cabinet decision on the matter bilateral consultations, at the appropriate diplomatic-political levels between Angola and Namibia, are ongoing and in progress on this very important matter