Namibia has lifted its ban on importing live poultry and birds from South Africa, the agriculture ministry announced.
The ban was imposed in September 2023 due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in South Africa.
Namibia banned these imports after the avian flu was detected, aiming to prevent the virus from spreading.
The country usually relies heavily on poultry imports from South Africa, consuming about 2,500 metric tons of chicken monthly.
The ministry noted that Namibia’s chicken consumption primarily depends on imports, with South Africa being the main supplier.
The recent decision to resume imports is expected to stabilize local poultry supply.
In another development, the ministry announced a suspension on importing live birds and uncooked poultry products from Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, following an outbreak of avian Newcastle disease.
Poultry consignments from Rio Grande do Sul packed on or after June 18, when the suspension began, will be rejected or destroyed at the importer’s expense, according to Namibia’s agriculture ministry.
