Americandelegation visits Meatco Tour ahead of beef exports to that country The American Ambassador to Namibia has visited the Windhoek Meatco plant after the company received approval to export beef to the US market in July. The American Ambassador to Namibia, Thomas Daughton, accompanied by a small delegation, visited the Windhoek Meatco abattoir recently to gain an understanding of the business and its operations, and to discuss possible future ventures. Namibia this year finally obtained approval to export deboned beef to the US and Meatco recently announced that a test consignment had been sent to the country while all health certificates are in place for beef exports.
The company has said that its application to export beef to the US began in 2002 and that it is excited at the prospect that this high-value market may become a reality in the near future.
Namibia is the first country in Africa to obtain approval from the US to export beef to that country.
According to Meatco, it was added to the Federal Register on 13 July this year for approval by the Food Safety and Inspection Services of the United States'' Department of Agriculture (FSISUSDA).
While Meatco is readying itself to start exporting deboned beef to the lucrative US market, the company says that its strategy for this market is to target the fast food industry and franchises like McDonald''s.
Under the final approval agreements, Meatco will be exporting boneless raw beef products like primal cuts and beef trimmings as well as chuck and blade.
According to Meatco this also means that it can export both chilled and frozen boneless meat (excluding offal) to that country.
“The strategy for this particular market is to target the fast food industry and franchises like McDonald''s, to provide maximum returns for Meatco and its producers.”
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