N$400m meat shipment in troubled waters as EU mulls FMD

A N$400 million meat shipment bound for Europe is in limbo as EU health authorities assess Namibia's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

The assessment comes as Namibia deploys 30 veterinary teams to contain the outbreak in ||Kharas, backed by private-sector equipment and supplies worth more than N$1.5 million.

Routine surveillance at a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District first detected the outbreak on 22 September.

Laboratory tests the following day confirmed 10 positive cases among 11 cattle showing clinical signs of FMD, while subsequent surveillance found 17 positive samples, all confined to the Karasburg district.

EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins commended the Namibian authorities for their swift, transparent and professional response.

She said the European Union’s health and food safety services are assessing the situation and any measures needed to safeguard animal and citizens’ health within the EU.

"Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and can have serious consequences for livestock, farmers’ livelihoods and the wider economy," Martins said.

"We stand ready to engage with the Namibian government and veterinary authorities,” Martins added.

N$400m awaiting Europe's verdict

The development follows agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani's disclosure in parliament on Tuesday that government was consulting international trading partners over a N$400 million meat consignment destined for Europe.

Zaamwani said she had spoken to Namibia's ambassador in Brazil and was due to meet the EU ambassador later this week as consultations over the country's meat exports continued.

She said Namibia would also have to officially notify the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) while the consignment's fate would depend on Namibia's livestock traceability system.

“We have a chance that they could be allowed to go, but it depends on the jurisdiction of other countries and the requirements,” she said.

Industry rallies with N$1.5m

The FMD Support Fund says it has mobilised more than N$1.5 million worth of equipment and supplies to assist veterinary authorities responding to the outbreak in ||Kharas.

Zaamwani launched the fund on 26 February as a private-sector initiative to strengthen Namibia's FMD preparedness and response, alongside the work of state veterinary authorities and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN).

It was formally incorporated with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority as a Section 21 company not for gain on 28 July.

The fund said 30 directorate of veterinary services (DVS) teams had been mobilised to conduct surveillance and testing, including in remote areas where teams are working under demanding field conditions.

“The urgent support was provided by Agra, Cymot, Agrimark and SWAVet, which supplied biosecurity products, surveillance kits and camping equipment valued at more than N$1.5 million,” the fund said.

The fund was conceptualised in November 2025 amid concerns about increasing FMD outbreaks in southern Africa and the potential consequences for Namibia's livestock industry.

The fund pledged approximately N$11 million at launch, against an initial fundraising target of N$50 million for awareness, prevention, preparedness, and rapid-response interventions.

It brought together Namibia's four recognised farmers' unions – the Namibia Agricultural Union, Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union, Namibia National Farmers Union and Previously Disadvantaged Namibian Farmers Union – alongside private-sector stakeholders, the LLPBN, DVS and government.

Bank Windhoek, FirstRand Foundation, Feedmaster, Namib Mills, DAS Group, Santam, Namibia Wildlife Ranches and Sinclair Services, along with individual donors and other organisations, have also provided financial support.

Traceability system tested

The LLPBN has also backed DVS's response, saying the outbreak has demonstrated the importance of Namibia's livestock surveillance and traceability systems.

According to the board, the outbreak involves cattle purchased and transported from the affected zone several months earlier.

After the disease was first detected, DVS activated national surveillance and traceability protocols, including quarantine, testing and tracking.

“Veterinary teams implemented quarantine, testing and tracking procedures, which resulted in the animals being cleared. Following the response, movement restrictions in the area were partially lifted,” the LLPBN said.

The board said Namibia's capacity to manage animal health and biosecurity risks had been built through years of investment in controlled animal health environments, strict biosecurity measures and cooperation between government and the livestock industry.

“Protecting Namibia's animal health status is a shared responsibility, and the board remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of compliance,” it said.

Restrictions partially eased

Acting agriculture executive director Petrus-Canisius Nangolo said on Sunday that the ministry would ease some restrictions on the movement of livestock, livestock products and meat products in areas north and south of the veterinary cordon fence.

He cautioned, however, that the easing of restrictions did not mean FMD had been defeated.

“However, it is still localised in the ||Kharas region, but we ask for the necessary cooperation so that [we] work together so that we might make sure that we defeat this disease, because it has serious fatal economic consequences that we have to try to avoid at all costs,” Nangolo said.

READY TO TALK: EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED