At its meeting on 19 August 2010 the Meat Board approved an increase in the classification levy. The classification service of the Meat Board is financed by a levy, which is as such shared on a 50/50 per cent basis between both the abattoirs and producers who make use of the classification services of the Meat Board. The proposed tariff is N$15.00 per head of cattle and N$3.00 per sheep and goat. The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry will be requested to announce the levy in the Government Gazette.

The Meat Board has been requested by the Directorate Veterinary Services to begin with the selling of electronic ear tags within the Namibian meat industry. The following dates are important:

1 September 2010: Producers can begin ordering new electronic ear tags.
1 October 2010: New ear tags available for purchasing and application to cattle.
1 November 2010: Beginning of registration of cattle with electronic ear tags.
31 May 2011: All cattle south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence must be identified with double electronic ear tags.

The price of the ear tags will be N$16.50 per animal for an ordinary set, while the price of a management set of ear tags will be N$20.00 per animal. Producers are advised to buy only limited numbers of the existing ear tags for the time being, seeing that these ear tags will be phased out after a certain time.

At its meeting on 19 August 2010 the Meat Board approved its Strategic Plan for the coming two to three years. This Strategic Plan aims to bring about growth in the meat industry and to address the challenges of the meat industry. In addition to dissemination of information and meat standards, much focus will be put on market access, identification and marketing, especially north of the red line.

According to a decision by Cabinet on 22 June 2010 regarding new sheep export measures, Cabinet approved the introduction of a varying ad valorem levy of between 15% and 30% on the transaction value of sheep exports to replace the current quantitative export limit of 6:1 local slaughter : export ratio.
Cabinet also approved that the levy initially be introduced at 15% and thereafter depending on the sheep export trend and the impact thereof. Cabinet gave its approval that the levies be deposited at the Meat Board in a special fund and that this fund will be utilised exclusively for the development and promotion of the sheep industry. Cabinet instructed the Meat Board to implement the new levy structure. The Meat Board plans to bring the industry together within the following week to discuss Cabinet’s decision, implementing mechanisms and recommendations to the Meat Board, 19 August 2010.

The Meat Board’s stock of arboricides, Tebuthiuron and Bromacil, was sold out within five working days. Only syringes are still available. Producers interested in purchasing the arboricides with the next consignment are requested to contact Andeline at telephone 275837 at the Meat Board. These orders will then be made together with the Meat Board’s order to the supplier at the end of the week, 16 July 2010. Producers are free to order as much arboricide as they need in this way, on condition that a post-dated cheque or bank guarantee be provided.

A forensic company, AgriInspec in South Africa, made accusations in a press release through its Managing Director that smuggling with cattle, meat and especially sheep is taking place from Namibia to South Africa. The company alleges that approximately 70 000 sheep leave the country without the knowledge of the Meat Board. The Meat Board has denied these accusations. The Meat Board has requested AgriInspec and its principals at several occasions in the past and also in the latest case to prove the accusations with evidence, but without success. In reaction to this the South African Revenue Service has denied all the accusations made by AgriInspec. Seeing that the Meat Board wants to protect its integrity it is in the process of having a forensic investigation done by an independent forensic investigation company.