South Africa’s red meat industry has been dealt a bitter blow with Namibia abruptly reimposing a ban on the import of bovine semen and embryos, just months after trade in these crucial genetic materials had resumed. The unexpected move, triggered by recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal, has left local beef cattle producers reeling and fearing for the future of genetic exchange with their northern neighbour.
The Namibian Directorate of Veterinary Services issued a terse letter to importers, citing the disease outbreaks outside the designated control zone in KwaZulu-Natal as the reason for the immediate prohibition. This decision effectively reverses the hard-won reopening of the border for bovine semen in December 2024 and for embryos only last month.
“This is a major setback and disappointment for the industry,” lamented Dr Pierre van Rooyen of the National Genetic Export Advisory Committee. “We had only just managed to reopen the border for semen and embryos, and now, this morning, we hear it’s closed again.”
Dr Johannes Shoopala, acting chief veterinary officer of the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, confirmed the suspension of all previously issued import permits, stating the prohibition would remain in effect until further notice.
Dr Van Rooyen suggested that Namibia was likely operating under the apprehension that the foot-and-mouth disease situation in KwaZulu-Natal was not yet under control. “We are still trying to determine why the ban was reintroduced without warning,” he said, adding that efforts would be made to persuade the Namibian authorities to reconsider their decision.
He emphasized the significant reliance of neighbouring countries like Botswana and Namibia on South Africa for vital genetic material to support their expanding livestock markets. “Although there are stringent protocols in place to certify embryos and semen as disease-free before export, we understand Namibia’s caution, especially given its crucial meat exports to European markets.”
The sudden closure underscores the delicate balance and inherent risks involved in the trade of livestock genetics, particularly in regions susceptible to animal diseases. While South Africa has protocols in place to mitigate these risks, the latest move by Namibia highlights the sensitivity of neighbouring countries, especially those with access to lucrative international meat markets. The South African red meat industry now faces the challenge of reassuring its neighbours of its disease control measures and working swiftly to restore this crucial trade link.
