Farmers beef up export battle

With no cattle having left the country since the introduction of South Africa’s new livestock import regulations that came into effect on 1 July, Namibian farmers are irate about the requirements that are forcing them to test their entire herds for diseases such as Tuberculosis amounting to thousands of dollars.
At an open day that was held by the Meat Board of Namibia, farmers expressed their frustration with South Africa and said that the Namibian government must immediately address the situation.
At the meeting, South Africa was openly accused of using an animal health issue as an excuse to create a trade barrier for Namibia.
While local industry players have previously brought the new import regulations of South Africa to the attention of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) it will once again be put on the agenda of the WTO Committee by the Namibian government in October. This will make it open to members of the public.
The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) revised import requirements applicable to imports of live cattle, sheep and goats from neighbouring countries that came into effect on 1 July.
The requirements aim to ensure consistency with the WTO agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. One of the requirements is that the contents of a new, official veterinary import certificate should accompany the standard handling procedure.
The new regulations demand that an entire cattle herd has to be tested for Tuberculosis and Brucella bovis (lung sickness).


This means that a producer should test his entire herd before being able to export a lower amount of say, 30 animals.
Paul Strydom, general manager of the Meat Board said that although there were negotiations between Namibia and South Africa about the import regulations, and a deal was approved on how the exports should be entertained, this never materialised.
Strydom said that South Africa on 10 June gazetted their new standard operating procedures (SOPs) and that Namibia on 1 July had to comply with the new import regulations for livestock to South Africa.
“We are still busy negotiating and currently goats and sheep have left the country, but no cattle have been exported due to the conditions.”
Namibia exports around 240 000 weaners, 140 000 sheep and 240 000 goats per year to South Africa.
Strydom said that the Meat Board’s argument against the import regulations is that the SOPs that were gazetted are much higher than those required by the World Organisation for Animal Health and this must be addressed.
Meat Board’s Manager for Trade, Goliath Tujendapi said that South Africa is using an animal health issue to justify their cause for a trade barrier for Namibia and other countries and it is escalated to the WTO.
“It is a trade barrier for us and when bringing it to the WTO we must tell them this.”
Strydom also agreed that South Africa is using an animal disease problem as an “excuse”. He however explained that this is not to have a legal case at the WTO committee, but to have it on the agenda and have it open for the public so that other countries can see what South Africa is doing.
Meanwhile farmers expressed their frustration with the current status quo, the extensive testing involved and the costs, pointing out the financial burden it is having on farmers.
One of the farmers at the meeting said that government and unions have failed them. “What South Africa is doing is unfair and must be reported to the WTO. This is the livelihood of farmers. We cannot just accept what South Africa is doing.”
He said the farmers are not happy and that the issue should be taken up with South Africa. “If I was the minister of agriculture I would resign.”
Strydom also pointed out that the Meat Board is not against the Growth at Home Strategy, but said out that there is not much that Namibia can do with weaners that is financially viable.
“You can grow them to oxen, but to do that farmers will either have to it in feedlots or standalone. It is not viable.”
One of the farmers wanted to know why the entire herd had to be tested for TB and not just the cattle that are to be slaughtered which could be isolated and tested. The manager of meat standards at the Meat Board, Dr Anja Boshoff explained that South Africa is currently following breeding SOPs and that the entire herd therefore has to be tested. Once slaughter SOPs are in place this may change.

ELLANIE SMIT