Botswana’s rapid response to recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) there has identified infections at multiple locations, resulting in thousands of cattle already being vaccinated. Important trade partners have also suspended their imports of products from animals that could carry the virus.

By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Botswana’s Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MoLA) reports that whereas the country’s recent outbreaks of FMD appear confined to Disease Control Zones (DCZs) 3c and 6b in the far north-east, infections in zone 3c have subsequently been confirmed in the vicinities of the Moroka, Kgari, Nlapkhwane and Mulambakwena communal livestock crushes. These are in the immediate vicinity of the Jackalas 1 crush, which was the index outbreak confirmed on 29 January.

While surveillance for any potential spread of FMD across Botswana continues, the country’s animal health authorities have reportedly already vaccinated 15 305 of the currently targeted 17 000 cattle in zones 3c and 6b against the virus.

“A booster vaccination will be done 28 days after the first vaccination,” according to MoLA.

Fmd In Botswana: Thousands Vaccinated, But Export Markets Suspend Meat Imports — A map showing Botswana’s Disease Control Zones. The country’s animal health authorities are reportedly working speedily to vaccinate livestock against foot-and-mouth disease in the infected Disease Control Zones 3c and 6b in the far north-east and thereby hopefully contain this disease there. Map: Botswana Ministry of Land and Agriculture

Restrictions on Movement of Livestock and their Products

In response to the latest information from its FMD surveillance and reaction strategies, Botswana has again revised its restrictions on the movement of livestock and their products within, out of and into its borders:

Movement of live cloven-hoofed animals remains prohibited except for direct slaughter at licensed facilities between and within zones 4a, 4b, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. This includes direct slaughter for social events like funerals and weddings, at licensed facilities;
Movement of fresh products derived from cloven-hoofed animals is allowed between, out of and within zones 4a, 4b, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13;
Movement of live cloven-hoofed animals into and out of zone 7 remains prohibited except for direct slaughter within this zone;
Movement of live cloven-hoofed animals into, out of or within zones 3c, 3b, 6a and 6b remains prohibited;
Movement of livestock feeds, trophies, hides and hooves out of zones 6b and 3c remains prohibited;
Movement of fresh products derived from cloven-hoofed animals out of zones 3b, 3c, 6a, 6b and 7 remains prohibited. However, movements of these products into and within these zones is allowed;
Transit of fresh products derived from cloven-hoofed animals through zones 3b, 3c, 6a, 6b and 7 is allowed in sealed containers or trucks under veterinary permits;
The import, export and transit of cloven-hoofed animals and their fresh products into, out of and through Botswana remain prohibited. Only zone 2 remains authorised to export such products;
Movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their fresh products into and within zones 1 and 2 is allowed. Movement of fresh products derived from such animals is allowed from zone 2 to zone 1 in sealed containers or trucks under veterinary permit; and
The home slaughter of cloven-hoofed animals remains prohibited across Botswana.

Also read: FMD confirmed in Botswana; targeted vaccinations begun

An Economic Blow

Botswana’s self-imposed restrictions on its exports of fresh products derived from cloven-hoofed animals, apart from zone 2, are likely to have significant economic impacts on the country’s associated value chain and economy. Before its latest FMD outbreaks and the associated restrictions, Botswana’s exports of products from cloven-hoofed animals reportedly amounted to approximately $73 million (R1.2 billion) annually.

Meanwhile, from other information that African Farming has been able to find, it appears that some of Botswana’s premium export markets for fresh products from cloven-hoofed animals have implemented their own precautionary suspensions on imports of these products from Botswana until the latter officially has its FMD outbreaks under control.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its Animal and Plant Health Agency have placed temporary restrictions on imports of fresh bovine meat from Botswana, applied retrospectively to consignments processed on or after 30 December 2025.

A statement by this department and agency states: “Although Botswana is also listed for imports of fresh meat from ovines (sheep), caprines (goats), and farmed and wild non-domestic ruminants, these are not eligible for import as there are no approved residue control programmes for these commodities.”

The European Union’s imports of such products from Botswana reportedly also remain suspended, as do such imports by Norway that operates under European Economic Area import controls.

Namibia, Zambia and South Africa have also reportedly suspended or restricted imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and their fresh products from Botswana while the latter is dealing with its FMD outbreaks.