Namibia: Vet Budget Puts Beef Exports At Risk
[Namibian] The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has exhausted its 2026/27 operational budget, putting prerequisite European Union (EU) export farm inspections under pressure.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Namibia has run out of funds for its 2026/27 operations, threatening crucial EU export inspections for livestock farms. EU-approved farms must undergo annual inspections to retain their certification and access critical export markets. However, these inspections halted earlier this year due to a depleted budget, leaving producers under pressure.
Without timely inspections, livestock certification may lapse, hindering slaughter at approved abattoirs and impacting the entire industry. EU ambassador Ian Dupont emphasizes that strict sanitary and phytosanitary requirements protect the importing country from diseases, food hazards, and other risks associated with animal products.
Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 Namibian producers undergo these inspections yearly. A temporary solution has been reached between organized agriculture, DVS, and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board to avoid export disruptions.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
