By Joanie Bergh
The South African red meat industry was left reeling after receiving an unexpected notice that Namibia is once again closing its border to the import of bovine semen and embryos from South Africa.
Just four months ago, beef cattle producers celebrated the lifting of Namibia’s ban on the import of bovine semen, which had been imposed in 2021 due to foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in South Africa. The ban on the import of embryos was lifted only a month ago.
“This is a major setback and disappointment for the industry,” says Dr Pierre van Rooyen, 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.”
The Namibian Directorate of Veterinary Services informed importers in a letter that, due to recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in South Africa, the import and transit of bovine semen and embryos from South Africa were once again prohibited.
Several outbreaks of the disease have been reported outside the control area in KwaZulu-Natal.
Dr Johannes Shoopala, acting chief veterinary officer of the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, stated that permits previously issued for imports were being suspended until further notice.
This decision follows the lifting of the import ban on South African bovine semen in December 2024, and on bovine embryos in March 2025.
“Namibia is probably under the impression that the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal is not under control,” Dr Van Rooyen says. “We are still trying to determine why the ban was reintroduced without warning, after which we will assist the South African Animal Health Directorate in persuading Namibia to reconsider its decision.”
He added that neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Namibia rely heavily on South Africa for genetic material to supply their growing markets.
“Although there are protocols in place to certify embryos and semen as disease-free before export, we understand Namibia’s caution, especially given that it exports meat to European markets.”
Also read:
KZN’s FMD spreads further, but positive steps being made
Foot-and-mouth disease in Amajuba, KZN – government’s intervention efforts
