EU suspends Namibian meat imports

The immediate future of Namibian beef and mutton exports to the EU is uncertain, after European inspectors found the country was not meeting EU export requirements. European inspectors discovered that some slaughtering procedures required by the EU were not being undertaken. Among the problems listed was that trucks taking animals to slaughter were not being sterilised after unloading, a requirement by the EU due to FMD concerns. Before the suspension of exports, Namibia was able to export up to 13,000 tonnes of deboned beef and mutton to the EU on an annual basis under the African Caribbean and Pacific quota arrangement. Between January and November this year, Namibia exported 10,000 tonnes of beef and mutton to the EU, primarily to the UK. The Meat Board of Namibia do not expect the impact of the suspension will have immediate effects on exports and propose it will channel beef and mutton onto the domestic market and export into surrounding nations, such as South Africa. Source: Meat & Livestock Australia