STAFF WRITER
The European Union |(EU) announced a meat a temporary meat import ban from Namibia on Monday after the southern aAfrican country recorded a Foot and Mouth outbreak two weeks ago
“Following confirmation of the outbreak, the Namibian authorities acted promptly, notifying the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and introducing measures to control the movement and ban the export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products. Following the notification, the WOAH has suspended the FMD-free status of Namibia with effect from 22 September 2026,” EU said in a statement.
The EU commended the Namibian authorities for their swift action and transparent communication.
The European Union said they remained in close contact with the Namibian authorities to discuss the outbreak and the measures required to protect animal health in the EU, in line with international standards.
“Namibia has responded with speed and transparency, and we commend its veterinary services for their professional response. The EU and Namibia have a longstanding partnership, including in trade and agriculture. We stand ready to continue working with the Namibian Government and its
veterinary authorities as they work to contain the outbreak and protect farmers’ livelihoods. We are also assessing how we can further support Namibia in this difficult task,”Ana Beatriz Martins, EU Ambassador to Namibia, said.
EU said they decided to temporarily suspend the entry into its territory of fresh meat of cattle, sheep and goats, as well as relevant farmed and wild
ungulates and certain processed meat products (biltong/jerky-type products) from Namibia’s previously FMD-free zone.
However, processed meat that has undergone the prescribed in the EU legislation the most severe risk-mitigating treatment remains eligible for entry into the EU.
The measure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 October 2026, with 23 September 2026, the date on which the first FMD outbreak was confirmed, as the closing date for entry into the EU of the relevant commodities. The consignments of fresh meat of ungulates certified by the Namibian competent authority before the date of the first FMD outbreak (23 September 2026) should be permitted to enter the Union (during the period of 90 days from that date) based on EU legislation and without prejudice to the decisions by the Border Control Posts of the EU Member States,’ the EU said.
They said these precautionary animal-health measures are consistent with international standards and comparable to measures taken by Namibia and other trading partners following FMD outbreaks.
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