EU bans Namibia’s beef imports from FMD-free zone…preferential EU trade access unaffected

The European Union (EU) yesterday officially suspended all imports of fresh beef, sheep, and goat meat and related products from Namibia’s previously Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free zone, following Saturday’s spike in the number of new FMD cases. 

The EU’s sweeping trade restrictions follow the confirmation of 79 new FMD cases, which agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani on Saturday said were recorded across 11 farms in the Karasburg Veterinary District of the ||Kharas region. 

Zaamwani said the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) tested a total of 531 samples on Friday, of which 79 tested positive for SAT-1, an FMD virus strain similar to the ones found in South Africa and Botswana. 

Consequently, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have since revoked Namibia’s highly lucrative FMD-free zone status where vaccination is not practised, as new cases continue to threaten the core economic jugular of the country’s premium agricultural trade. 

Yesterday, EU Ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins issued a statement in which she formally announced the temporary suspension of importing certain meat products from Namibia, which includes fresh meat from cattle, sheep, goats, and relevant farmed or wild ungulates, as well as processed products like biltong and jerky-type products. 

“The EU has remained in close contact with Namibian authorities to discuss the outbreak and the measures required to protect animal health in the EU, in line with international standards. As such, the EU has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into its territory of fresh meat of cattle, sheep and goats, as well as relevant farmed and processed meat products from Namibia’s previously FMD-free zone. Processed meat that has undergone the prescribed treatment in the EU legislation, the most severe risk-mitigating treatment, remains eligible for entry into the EU,” said Martins. 

She said all consignments of fresh meat of ungulates certified by Namibian competent authorities before the date of the first FMD outbreak [23 September 2026] will be permitted to enter the EU, provided that it is during the period of 90 days from that date. 

“These are precautionary animal-health measures, consistent with international standards and comparable to measures taken by Namibia and other trading partners following FMD outbreaks. The EU will continue to assess the epidemiological situation in close cooperation with Namibia and stands ready to review the measures as animal-health conditions allow. The restrictions do not alter Namibia’s preferential trade access under the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement; they concern the animal-health conditions applicable to the affected products,” Martins added. 

She continued: “Namibia has responded with speed and transparency, and we commend its veterinary services for their professional response. The EU and Namibia have a longstanding partnership, including in trade and agriculture. We stand ready to continue working with the Namibian Government and its veterinary authorities as they work to contain the outbreak and protect farmers’ livelihoods. We are also assessing how we can further support Namibia in this difficult task.” 

Lucrative market   

Local economic research firms like Simonis Storm indicate that Namibia faces catastrophic losses. Namibia risks compromising a combined N$3.3 billion annual export market that services the EU, the UK, and Norway collectively. 

Under a baseline forecast, the country is projected to lose at least N$1.5 billion in direct export earnings through the remainder of 2026 alone. 

Namibia’s livestock sector is valued at approximately N$15 billion, with the red meat industry alone accounting for roughly N$8 billion annually. The sector generates over N$2.1 billion in foreign exchange and contributes about 3.5% to the national GDP. 

Namibia’s agricultural export ecosystem directly supports the livelihoods of roughly 70% of the national population, with premium meat exports to the EU alone securing more than 40,000 jobs across meat processing, packaging, and commercial logistics. 

Due to the lockdown of the southern zone, economists warn the country could suffer a loss of up to 12 000 job-years across 2026 and 2027. 

With major global trade routes temporarily severed, commercial cattle cannot be moved or slaughtered for export. While this could eventually redirect excess premium beef into the local Namibian market, temporarily driving down beef prices for domestic consumers, the broader domestic agricultural economy faces intense structural strain, including localised shortages and strict movement barriers. 

–ohembapu@nepc.com.na

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