Windhoek
Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa has requested stakeholders in the meat industry to submit written proposals for amendments to the Meat Industry Act by June 17.
In a directive sent to, among others, the Meat Board of Namibia, Meatco, the Namibia Agricultural Union, the Agro-Marketing Trading Agency and the Namibia National Farmers Union, Mutorwa said that the organisations had to study the current Act and submit their proposals directly to his office for consideration.
Mutorwa said the proposals should be geared towards strengthening and updating the current legislation.
He said that the Meat Industry Act 1981 was gazetted on August 4, 1981, and 35 years down the line it urgently requires revision, updating and appropriate amendments.
“The issue of creating a viable and vibrant domestic market for Namibian agricultural products, inclusive of meat products, is one that requires serious and urgent attention, as well as inclusion in the proposed amendment bill.”
He further pointed out that the required amendments must, however, be practically relevant, and ensure that the government’s policy objectives in its policy documents, such as Vision 2030, the Namibia Agricultural Policy and others, are properly accommodated in the Meat Industry Amendment Bill.
After being considered by Mutorwa, the proposals will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation and then to the legal drafters, before eventually being presented to parliament during the last quarter of this year or early next year.