WINDHOEK – Pressure is mounting for the Namibian export industry to ensure credibility and transparency with the South African Veterinary Authority after the recent phasing out of the stringent requirements required by the SA import certificates.
The Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) says to ensure credibility and ease the control mechanism and measures from the South African Veterinary Authority, new measures will be required when applying for the export permit. The application should clearly state the following:
- Name of destination (clearly state the name of the farm, feedlot or an abattoir)
- Physical address – Farm number / abattoir street address
- Purpose of export (feedlotting & slaughtering)
- GPS coordinates of the facility
Meanwhile, the Meat Board says although the permits won’t reflect the coordinates, its agents will be required to send a list of all the destinations together with their coordinates to the Meat Board on a weekly basis. These measures are aimed at ensuring transparency and in turn to avoid unnecessary trade disruption. After more than three months during which the export of Namibian livestock to South Africa dwindled to virtually nothing, local producers now have access to the lucrative market again with relaxed import requirements from the South African authorities. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) confirmed that the veterinary authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa have revised the conditions for the importation of cattle, sheep and goats from Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland with effect from August 26.
The news was welcomed by regional representatives while the Meat Board described the revised conditions for export as “very good news.”
It transpired that good and sufficient grazing in the bigger commercial area of Namibia, and in most communal areas, enables producers to keep their livestock during the uncertainty in the market, which was created by the unexpected strict import requirements by South Africa. These new regulations kicked into gear on May 1, but despite the uncertainty, the market adapted to these requirements which support the weaner price. But the revised conditions now require transparency and credibility from Namibian producers in line with the new set of requirements.
Namibian producers exported only 441 cattle, 13 171 goats and 731 sheep to South Africa until the end of July but indications are that these exports have picked up considerably since then while the industry is still waiting for official figures for August.Cattle and small stock are exported to South Africa and is building momentum as farmers, exporters and agents are ascertaining themselves with the new rules. Namibia’s multi-billion dollar Namibian livestock industry on whose livelihood some 70 percent of the 2.2 million inhabitants depend, rakes in more than N$2 billion annually from an average of 160 000 weaners exported to South Africa, as well as 100 000 sheep and about 240 000 goats. Communal famers make up for about 60 percent of the total export.