Poultry ban relaxed
Namibia has relaxed the complete ban on the importation of live poultry and poultry products from South Africa with certain amendments that have been put in place.
This follows the outbreak of bird flu (H5N8) in South Africa after which Namibia suspended the import and in-transit movements of live poultry, birds, poultry products, ostriches and ostrich products from South Africa.
According to a statement issued by the Namibia's ministry of agriculture, the complete ban since 23 June due to the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in poultry has been amended.
Namibia's chief veterinary officer Dr Milton Maseke said the importation of live poultry and ostriches will be allowed if the animals originate from areas approved by South Africa's agricultural department and the farms have been registered for export and have been inspected.
These areas should also be located outside a 90km radius of the Vaal Dam in South Africa where the virus was detected.
According to Maseke, raw poultry and ostrich meat and eggs from areas approved by the South African agricultural department and registered for export and which have also been inspected may also now be imported.
These products, however, must be slaughtered at approved abattoirs provided that these areas are also located 90km radius outside the Vaal Dam in South Africa.
Furthermore, the certifying veterinarian should endorse on the health certificate that the area tested negative on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or any test approved by the agricultural department in South Africa, for the surveillance of the affected areas for bird flu. It must also ensure that the results are not older than 30 days of endorsement.
Also poultry meat products processed must be in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health's Terrestrial Animal health Code.
“All other poultry, wild bird, domestic bird, or products derived from South Africa remain ineligible for imports into Namibia.”
The relaxing of the ban on poultry products comes as good news for poultry producers after Namibia completely banned poultry products from South Africa more than a month ago.
Poultry producers were concerned about the collapse of the industry should borders remain closed for more than a month.
Poultry producers renew their gene pool in cycles and every three months they put the old chickens out and get new chickens in.
The concern was that the cycle was being broken because no new chickens were coming into the country.
ELLANIE SMIT
This follows the outbreak of bird flu (H5N8) in South Africa after which Namibia suspended the import and in-transit movements of live poultry, birds, poultry products, ostriches and ostrich products from South Africa.
According to a statement issued by the Namibia's ministry of agriculture, the complete ban since 23 June due to the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in poultry has been amended.
Namibia's chief veterinary officer Dr Milton Maseke said the importation of live poultry and ostriches will be allowed if the animals originate from areas approved by South Africa's agricultural department and the farms have been registered for export and have been inspected.
These areas should also be located outside a 90km radius of the Vaal Dam in South Africa where the virus was detected.
According to Maseke, raw poultry and ostrich meat and eggs from areas approved by the South African agricultural department and registered for export and which have also been inspected may also now be imported.
These products, however, must be slaughtered at approved abattoirs provided that these areas are also located 90km radius outside the Vaal Dam in South Africa.
Furthermore, the certifying veterinarian should endorse on the health certificate that the area tested negative on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or any test approved by the agricultural department in South Africa, for the surveillance of the affected areas for bird flu. It must also ensure that the results are not older than 30 days of endorsement.
Also poultry meat products processed must be in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health's Terrestrial Animal health Code.
“All other poultry, wild bird, domestic bird, or products derived from South Africa remain ineligible for imports into Namibia.”
The relaxing of the ban on poultry products comes as good news for poultry producers after Namibia completely banned poultry products from South Africa more than a month ago.
Poultry producers were concerned about the collapse of the industry should borders remain closed for more than a month.
Poultry producers renew their gene pool in cycles and every three months they put the old chickens out and get new chickens in.
The concern was that the cycle was being broken because no new chickens were coming into the country.
ELLANIE SMIT
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