Namibia enforces stricter rules on import, export of meat, poultry, and livestock products
New permit requirements and levies affect meat, poultry, dairy, and hides as authorities increase oversight of the livestock sector.
NAMIBIA – Namibia has implemented stricter regulations on the import and export of meat, poultry, and other livestock products, making it mandatory for businesses to obtain permits before moving these goods across the country’s borders.
Under the Livestock and Livestock Products Amendment Act, poultry meat, eggs, egg products, sheep and goat skins, cattle hides, and dairy products are now classified as controlled products.
According to Ace Mutelo, spokesperson for the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), producers and traders must register with the board before they can apply for permits to import or export these items.
Registration has been ongoing since January, and many individuals and facilities are already listed in the system.
To assist producers with compliance, the LLPBN has launched a regional campaign to facilitate the process.
Alongside the permit system, the LLPBN has introduced general and special levies on controlled products.
These fees, according to Mutelo, are based on the selling price of the product rather than adding a direct cost to producers.
To enforce the new rules, officers have been stationed at all border posts to check permits, verify documentation, and conduct random inspections on shipments.
Mutelo stated that the board has encountered minimal resistance from industry players, as consultations were held before the regulations took effect.
The act applies to businesses of all sizes, with the definition of a producer covering anyone involved in producing, processing, importing, or exporting controlled livestock products.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are urged to register, as this ensures they are represented in industry discussions and included in policymaking decisions.
With these new controls in place, authorities aim to regulate Namibia’s meat and poultry trade more effectively while ensuring compliance across the livestock sector.
Namibia’s meat market
Namibia sources various types of meat, including poultry, bovine, and swine, from countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, and Germany.
In 2023, the country imported poultry meat worth US$26.7 million, ranking as the 103rd largest importer of this product globally.
Among all imports to Namibia, poultry meat was the 51st most imported commodity.
The primary suppliers of poultry meat included Brazil, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, and the United States.
Between 2022 and 2023, Namibia’s poultry meat imports saw the most significant growth from Spain, Eswatini, and Poland.
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