Namibia has lifted its ban on imports of live poultry and birds from South Africa, as announced by the country’s agriculture ministry on Friday, August 18, 2024. This decision marks the end of restrictions imposed in September 2023 following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in South Africa.
The resumption of imports is significant for Namibia’s poultry market, as the country consumes an estimated 2,500 metric tons of chicken monthly, with a substantial reliance on imports primarily from South Africa.
While reopening trade with South Africa, Namibia has simultaneously suspended imports of live birds and uncooked poultry products from Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. This new restriction comes in response to an outbreak of avian Newcastle disease in the Brazilian region.
The Namibian agriculture ministry has stipulated that any consignments containing poultry products from Rio Grande do Sul packed in their final packaging on or after June 18, 2024 – the date of suspension – will be either returned or destroyed at the importer’s expense.
This dual action by Namibian authorities reflects the ongoing challenges in managing international poultry trade amid global animal health concerns. The decision to resume imports from South Africa while restricting those from a Brazilian state demonstrates Namibia’s efforts to balance its domestic poultry supply needs with necessary biosecurity measures.
The lifting of the ban on South African imports is expected to ease potential supply pressures in Namibia’s poultry market, while the new restrictions on Brazilian imports highlight the country’s commitment to maintaining strict health standards for imported poultry products.
