NamRA pursues ‘unpackaged’ macaroni vendors

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) said it will not allow the entry of unlabelled macaroni into the country because these products could contain ingredients harmful to consumers.Business is booming for unlabelled macaroni in the northern parts of the country – with the bulk imported from neighbouring Angola.NamRA regional manager Susan Beukes, who was speaking at a stakeholder engagement session at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair last week, explained that by no means will they compromise on the health of Namibian people.The agency also has a duty to assist the health ministry, she said.Allergy riskBeukes said until ingredients are clearly labelled in both English and Portuguese, this macaroni will not be permitted to be sold in Namibia.“We need to know where it was manufactured, how it was manufactured and the contents contained in this product. Of what was the macaroni manufactured? There are so many people who are highly allergic to peanuts,” she said.Beukes added if there is peanut oil in the macaroni, people will die and the health ministry would be left with no answers on what happened to these individuals.‘Ours, not Angolan’Namibian Sun last week paid a visit to the Frans Aupa Indongo Open Market in Oshakati and others around the town to get vendors’ views on NamRA’s decision.According to them, the macaroni they sell is from Namibia, not Angola.Some of the vendors confirmed that NamRA officials paid the open market a visit last month to inform them about the decision, but said they refuse to comply as they insist their macaroni does not hail from Angola.The macaroni could still be seen in big containers, but sellers insist it comes from local shops, which sell the pasta for N$10 per jug.Imports explainedAccording to NamRA spokesperson Tonateni Shidhudhu, small-scale importers can bring in 250 to 500 kilograms of mahangu and/or beans per person per month for commercial use, and 200kg per person for personal use.However, importers should be able to prove they bought these products within a 60-kilometre radius in order to be exempted from phytosanitary requirements.He said this could mean that vendors carry a document, even from the headman of a specific village where they bought the products, which confirms the distance.

NamRA pursues ‘unpackaged’ macaroni vendors

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-14

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NamRA pursues ‘unpackaged’ macaroni vendors

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-14

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