The European Union’s health and food-safety services are assessing Namibia’s recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak and the measures that may be required to safeguard animal and public health within the EU.

European Union Ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins said the EU had been informed of the outbreak and commended Namibian authorities for what she described as a swift, transparent and professional response.

The assessment comes amid concerns over the potential impact of the outbreak on Namibia’s beef exports to European markets.

The EU said FMD is highly contagious and can have serious consequences for livestock, farmers’ livelihoods and the wider economy.

The bloc noted that it remains ready to engage with the Namibian government and veterinary authorities as the situation develops.

Namibia activated its FMD contingency plan after the disease was detected in cattle in the Karasburg area of the ||Kharas Region. This resulted in restrictions on the movement, marketing, slaughter and export of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products.

The outbreak has raised concerns about Namibia’s access to key international beef markets.

Meanwhile, the Namibian government is engaging trading partners, including the EU, over meat shipments that may be affected by the outbreak.

Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani said the fate of the consignments would depend on Namibia’s traceability system and the import requirements of individual destination countries.

Report: Celma Ndhikwa