Most producers are probably unaware of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Botswana, Angola, Kavango and Caprivi. Foot-and-mouth disease is a serious illness that stops any marketing immediately. Marketing of meat from north of the red line (Oshikate and Katima) was limited for more than a year. Producers’ attention is drawn to the seriousness of the disease by thinking of the impact of a year’s suspension of the marketing of meat from the communal and commercial production areas south of the red line. Producers are requested to take cognisance of the symptoms of the disease and to report it without delay to the nearest veterinary office, as well as any obviously illegal movements of cattle. The spread of the disease can be avoided by not purchasing animals of unknown origin.

Mr Hannes Nieuwoudt and Mr Mecki Schneider were appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry for a further term to represent the commercial sheep producers of the central region and the beef producers of the northern region on the Meat Board. Both Mr Schneider and Mr Nieuwoudt have been members of the Meat Board for a considerable time and perform outstanding services to the meat industry of Namibia. Mr Schneider also serves on the Livestock Producers' Organisation (LPO) as well as on the Livestock Producers' Forum, while Mr Nieuwoudt is an ex-board member of the Livestock Producers' Organisation.

The General Manager of the Meat Board was invited to make a presentation to a select audience of EU parliamentarians, diplomatic corps and non-government organisations in Brussels to outline Namibia's experience regarding meat exports, as well as to provide information concerning exports of lower animal health status areas, as those north of the Red Line, and, additionally, to make bone-in and lamb exports internationally viable. Considerable interest was awakened for Namibia's ability to export meat internationally and the process will be taken forward in cooperation with the Directorate of Veterinary Services. All the costs for the visit to Brussels were paid by the EU.

The Technical Committee of the Implementing and Monitoring Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Industry met yesterday, 26 June 2009, to find a solution to the sheep marketing problem that has been going on for years now. The Meat Board and the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Finance, and Trade and Industry that have not been involved previously, were now included in this round of negotiations. The proposal that was tabled was an export levy of N$40.00 per head that will vary on the basis of prices paid by sheep export abattoirs and the capacity utilisation of the sheep export abattoirs. Three sheep export abattoirs, however, later objected to technical aspects, especially in the light of the involvement of the Meat Board in the issuing of permits and border control. No concrete evidence, as requested, could, however, be provided. The meeting took a majority decision and accepted the proposal of the Livestock Producers' Forum of N$40.00 per head export levy. This proposal will now be submitted to the Minister of Trade and Industry for submission to and approval of the Cabinet as soon as possible.