FMD risks N$3bn European exports

Meatco awaiting clarity on beef already shipped to Europe

Namibia could lose its N$3.3-billion European market for beef due to last week’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, compromising the country’s disease-free status.

The outbreak could lead to a complete suspension of beef exports to international markets.
According to a Simonis Storm report, Namibia’s economic growth could drop by about 0.45 percentage points if livestock production falls by 10%.

“About 60% of beef export earnings, roughly N$3.3 billion a year, come from European, British and Norwegian markets, which apply the strictest sanitary rules and will close first,” Simonis Storm’s research states.

A prolonged suspension could also reduce farmers’ incomes, weaken meat processing and increase Namibia’s trade deficit, according to the analysts’ report.

Executive director of international relations and trade Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati yesterday said the government is engaging with international trading partners.

“[The government is working to ensure] that a notification is made to the World Trade Organisation and the relevant international animal-health standards and protocols,” she said.

Nghipondoka-Robiati, however, declined to comment on the position of individual trading partners while consultations are still ongoing.

BEEF IN TRANSIT

Meanwhile, the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) is working to establish what will happen to beef consignments that were already exported, shipped or in transit before Namibia confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in its FMD-free zone.

The outbreak came as the country confirmed FMD cases in the ||Kharas region last Wednesday.

This has resulted in the veterinary services activating Namibia’s FMD contingency plan.

The plans involved that Namibia suspend the movement and marketing of cloven-hoofed animals, slaughtering at abattoirs and the import and export of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products.

Meatco board deputy chairperson Stephanie de Klerk says the company is consulting veterinary authorities, logistics companies, customers and importing countries over consignments that were already on their way to export markets.

The outbreak comes after Namibia exported meat and meat products worth N$1.43 billion during the first five months of 2026.

De Klerk says it is too early to determine whether beef already exported would have to be returned.

“At this stage, Meatco does not wish to speculate on the treatment of individual consignments or whether any product may need to be returned,” she says.

She says the return of consignments will depend on veterinary certification, when consignments were dispatched, their current status and the requirements of importing countries.

Meatco is currently inspecting consignments already dispatched or still in the logistics chain.

“Meatco is, therefore, undertaking a reconciliation of consignments already dispatched or currently in the logistics chain.

Further information will be communicated once their status and any instructions from the relevant authorities and export markets have been confirmed,” De Klerk says.

Meatco also says it is too early to determine the financial impact of the restrictions.

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