Namibia resumes poultry imports from Belgium

Namibia resumes poultry imports from Belgium Namibia has lifted a ban on poultry imports from Belgium after an outbreak of the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu in that country caused trade to be suspended in June last year.

The chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, Adrianatus Maseke, said the lifting of the ban followed the submission of a comprehensive report on the outbreak from Belgium.

“The resumption of imports and in transit movement is for products after 29 September 2017.”

Masheke said Belgium indicated that all affected areas had been depopulated of poultry while properties were also disinfected.

“Surveillance conducted in that country has not detected any evidence of infection in poultry for at least three months as required by the World Health Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to declare freedom.”

While Namibians consume an estimated 2 500 tons of chicken each month, the country has only one commercial supplier that is able to supply between 1 800 and 1 900 tons and therefore it relies on imports to meet the demand.

Namibia imports the bulk of its poultry from South Africa, but also gets some of its supply from Belgium, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.

Namibia banned poultry products from South Africa last year after an outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring country. This ban remains in place.

The total number of poultry farms infected with bird flu in South Africa now stands at 107‚ of which 75 are in the Western Cape Province.

Since 31 October no new cases of bird flu have been recorded on poultry farms in the Western Cape, but at least 12 more outbreaks began on commercial ostrich farms between 2 August and 4 December, according to a notification from the OIE. All of the farms were in Western Cape Province.

Masheke urged importers to contact the veterinary import/export office for office for information on countries currently free from bird flu.

ELLANIE SMIT