Windhoek: The movement of dried meat from cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and certain wild animals, is now permitted into Namibia’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) free zone without a veterinary permit. This allowance is contingent upon all portions of the meat being cooked and devoid of blood, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR).
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has advised the public to ensure that the meat is boiled. Raw meat not produced under Commodity-Based Trade (CBT) conditions remains prohibited, as the FMD virus can persist in tissues like lymph nodes and bone marrow, even after freezing. The new guidelines form part of the government’s strategy to maintain the integrity of the FMD-free zone.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognizes FMD-free zones, necessitating stringent controls, including veterinary fences, gates, and designated entry and exit points. Raw meat from export-approved abattoirs is permitted into the zone only when it complies with CBT conditions and is accompanied by a veterinary health certificate confirming adherence to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
Products from non-cloven-hoofed animals, such as chicken, donkeys, horses, and fish, as well as plant products free from cloven-hoofed animal manure, are allowed into the FMD-free zone without restriction. However, unregistered animal feeds for cloven-hoofed animals still require a veterinary permit.
The ministry has urged citizens to consult their nearest state veterinary office, veterinary gate, or designated entry/exit point for comprehensive guidelines on permissible items for movement into the FMD-free zone.