Directorate of Veterinary Services — government agency responsible for livestock health control, border inspections, and disease surveillance in Namibia.
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March 2026
Informanté
Directorate of Veterinary Servicesimposedrestrictions on importation of cloven-hoofed animals from Botswana over FMD outbreak
Source
“NAMIBIA has imposed immediate restrictions on the importation and in-transit movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from several zones in Botswana following confirmed outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).”
Directorate of Veterinary Serviceshad representatives attendthe 2026 International Forum for Transboundary Animal Diseases and Food Safety Conference in Cape Town
Source
“Mr Dawie Kok, Vice-Chairperson of the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO), and Dr Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar, Project Coordinator of Namibia's FMD Support Fund, attended the conference alongside representatives from Namibia's Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN).”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicesshould be assisted withfinancial contributions from industries to maintain border security
Source
“Institutions such as the Livestock and Livestock Product Board of Namibia (formerly known as Meatboard of Namibia) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) should be assisted with financial contributions from industries such as mining, banking and fishing.”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicestook in 2024step of arranging module enrolment fees coverage by Ministry
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“In 2024, the Directorate of Veterinary Services took an additional step by arranging for the enrolment fees for this module to be covered by the Ministry for candidates who expressed interest in sitting for the Council examination.”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicesis warning farmers it will cullcattle found to have been vaccinated illegally against FMD
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“The Directorate of Veterinary Services is warning farmers it will cull cattle that are found to have been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease (FMD) illegally.”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicesis responsible fortechnical decisions and outbreak management
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“The DVS and LLPBN remain responsible for technical decisions and outbreak management, while the fund provides financial and operational backing where required.”
Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS)is working to strengtheninspection and biosecurity measures at borders
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“There are concerted efforts by the government, through its Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), and industry players, such as the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), to strengthen inspection and biosecurity measures at all borders.”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicesis collaborating withFMD Support Fund and farmers' unions on containment measures
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“The FMD Support Fund, managed collaboratively by Namibia's four farmers' unions and government agencies such as the DVS and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), provides financial and logistical support for containment measures.”
Directorate of Veterinary Servicessupportedprocurement of FMD equipment, vaccines and materials
Source
“Procured with the support of the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services, the additional equipment, vaccines and related materials will form part of the FMD emergency mobile store, which will be deployed to suspected outbreak sites across the country immediately upon request from the directorate.”
The Namibia Agriculture Union reports progress toward allowing livestock trucks to return from South Africa with backloads after undergoing approved cleaning and disinfection procedures aligned with World Organisation for Animal Health standards. The Livestock Producers' Organisation and Directorate of Veterinary Services are developing a system with certification and documentation to address logistical and financial burdens created by current foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.
The Namibia Agriculture Union reports progress toward allowing livestock trucks to return from South Africa with backloads after undergoing approved cleaning and disinfection procedures aligned with World Organisation for Animal Health standards. The Livestock Producers' Organisation and Directorate of Veterinary Services are developing a system with certification and documentation to address logistical and financial burdens created by current foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.
South Africa's Agriculture Minister said South Africa is dealing with its largest-ever foot-and-mouth disease outbreak but bringing it increasingly under control, and has provided 50,000 vaccine doses each to Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho to strengthen regional preparedness.
Namibian livestock producers supplying EU markets faced inspection suspensions when the Directorate of Veterinary Services' operational budget was exhausted. A temporary arrangement now allows producers to cover travel and related costs of state veterinarians conducting required EU certification inspections, channelled through the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia.
Namibia's livestock export industry faced pressure when the Directorate of Veterinary Services suspended annual EU certification inspections due to budget exhaustion, risking producers' access to export markets; a temporary arrangement was reached with producers covering state veterinarian travel costs during the interim period.
A rabies case was detected in a dog at Extension Four in Ondangwa last Thursday. The Ondangwa Town Council and Directorate of Veterinary Services have launched an urgent vaccination campaign for dogs and cats in affected and surrounding areas, starting Wednesday at multiple venues and through a mobile vaccination team.
The Ondangwa Town Council has confirmed a positive rabies case in Extension 4 and launched an urgent vaccination campaign for dogs and cats in Extensions 2, 3, 4, and 6, with vaccinations scheduled from Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at designated locations and via mobile teams.
The Agriculture Minister said Meatco remained profitable despite droughts and low cattle availability, with throughput south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence declining by 53% to 35,594 cattle. Revenue fell from N$1.865 billion to N$1.108 billion, but the company strengthened its financial position, increased cash reserves, and reduced accumulated losses.
Namibia's four farmers' unions have launched a campaign to raise N$50 million to protect the livestock industry from Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with more than N$12 million already pledged from farmers' unions, agribusinesses, financial institutions and industry partners. The initiative warns that a single FMD outbreak could cripple export markets, threaten rural livelihoods and damage the national economy.
Namibia has installed a semi-automated vehicle disinfection spray system at Ariamsvlei border post to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The two-stage system, the first of three planned installations at border posts, uses water followed by disinfectant to inactivate the FMD virus.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has lifted restrictions on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals in parts of Ohangwena and Kavango West regions after a buffalo spotted in June tested negative for foot and mouth disease and was euthanised.
Namibia has vaccinated over 124,000 dogs in 2025 and more than 157,000 in 2024, achieving approximately 61% coverage nationally, according to the Chief Veterinary Officer. While the country has not yet reached its 70% vaccination target, national rabies positivity rates have dropped below 10%, with awareness campaigns reaching about 82% of schools in the Northern Communal Areas.
Namibia's Directorate of Veterinary Services has imposed an immediate ban on imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from designated zones in Botswana following confirmed foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. The directorate has also suspended poultry and poultry products from Argentina's Buenos Aires province due to highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia is offering cattle producers a 15% subsidy on approved Lumpy Skin Disease vaccines, available on a first-come, first-served basis since 1 February 2026. Registered producers must purchase approved vaccines, obtain vaccination certificates from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, and submit claims with original receipts and bank confirmation letters, with applications limited to 350 doses per producer per subsidy period.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services will conduct a regional awareness campaign on Foot-and-Mouth Disease from 16 to 20 March 2026 across seven regions, in collaboration with the Livestock and Livestock Products Board and farmers' unions, to strengthen preparedness and response to the ongoing FMD threat in the SADC region.
Namibia has imposed immediate restrictions on the importation and in-transit movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from ten zones in Botswana following confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks reported by Botswana's Veterinary Authority. The measure aims to prevent introduction of the FMD virus into Namibia, though imports from other zones remain permitted with veterinary approval.
Namibian livestock and veterinary representatives participated in the 2026 International Forum for Transboundary Animal Diseases and Food Safety Conference in Cape Town, where regional and international experts discussed strategies to prevent and control Foot and Mouth Disease in Southern Africa. The conference emphasised the importance of surveillance, early detection, regional coordination, and cross-border communication, with several partners expressing interest in supporting Namibia's efforts to maintain its FMD-free zone without vaccination.
Namibia's Meteorological Services reported the driest January since 1981, with uneven rainfall posing risks to livestock and crop production. The article urges farmers to take early action—such as selling vulnerable animals and securing irrigation—and calls on policymakers to support export abattoirs, subsidize irrigation systems, and strengthen border security against foot-and-mouth disease.
Namibia has launched an FMD Support Fund and Task Force to protect its N$15 billion livestock industry from Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with 11 partners pledging nearly N$13 million. The effort aims to strengthen surveillance, border biosecurity, and response capacity amid heightened risk from FMD outbreaks in neighbouring countries.
Namibia's newly established foot-and-mouth disease support fund, organized by farmers' unions, the Directorate of Veterinary Services, and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, has raised N$12.76 million from corporations and unions to strengthen biosecurity and emergency response. The fund aims to raise N$50 million to complement N$57 million allocated by the agriculture ministry for awareness, prevention, and rapid response efforts.
Private and public sector partners have pledged over N$11.2 million towards a newly launched Foot and Mouth Disease Support Fund targeting N$50 million to strengthen Namibia's prevention capacity, veterinary surveillance, and outbreak response. The move comes as Namibia faces increasing FMD risk from neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, with a national FMD Task Force established to coordinate prevention and containment strategies.
Namibia has reaffirmed that its foot-and-mouth disease-free status without vaccination is essential for protecting export markets and the agricultural economy, warning that unauthorized vaccine use could jeopardize this standing and result in severe financial losses. The country manages FMD risk through strict movement controls, surveillance, and border measures, with vaccination reserved only for outbreaks under veterinary authority, as the no-vaccination policy in the free zone allows access to high-value international meat markets.
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture has established the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Support Fund and FMD Task Force to protect the livestock sector against potential outbreaks, with private sector pledges including N$2 million each from Bank Windhoek and FirstRand, and N$3 million annually from the Namibia Agricultural Union. The initiatives will support vaccination campaigns, border biosecurity, veterinary infrastructure, and farmer awareness programmes to safeguard Namibia's N$15 billion livestock industry.
The foot-and-mouth disease support fund was officially launched at the agriculture ministry with industry pledges of N$11 million. The fund, a coordinated effort between the four national farmers' unions and the Directorate of Veterinary Services, aims to finance awareness programmes, farmer training, and rapid responses to any outbreak, with a first-phase target of N$50 million.
Namibia's livestock industry has warned that vaccinating against foot-and-mouth disease would severely damage the sector by making the country ineligible for premium markets such as the EU, UK, and US, which collectively import the majority of Namibian beef at high-value prices. Officials stress that Namibia's status as "FMD-free without vaccination" is crucial for market access, and any vaccination south of the veterinary fence is illegal; the Directorate of Veterinary Services has warned it will confiscate and cull illegally vaccinated cattle.
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani has outlined interventions to support more than 30 veterinary graduates unable to practise due to unregistered status with the Namibian Veterinary Council, including three attempts at registration exams, temporary registration during preparation, UNAM's eight-week preparatory module (with 2024 fee coverage), and an internship programme facilitated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
The chief veterinary officer warned that cattle found to have been illegally vaccinated against foot and mouth disease will be culled, as vaccination south of the veterinary cordon fence would cost Namibia its FMD-free status and access to international beef markets. Recent FMD outbreaks in South Africa and Botswana have prompted increased surveillance in Namibian border regions.
Namibia's livestock industry has launched a privately-funded Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Support Fund to strengthen prevention and emergency response measures, amid regional FMD cases in South Africa and Botswana that could threaten the country's N$15 billion livestock sector. The fund, led by four national farmers' unions, seeks N$50 million in private contributions to support veterinary authorities and coordinate industry action against potential outbreaks.
With FMD spreading in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, Namibia's livestock industry—valued at N$6–15 billion and heavily reliant on exports—faces an imminent threat. An outbreak could devastate export markets, employment, food prices, and government budgets across multiple economic sectors.
Following Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks in neighbouring countries, Namibia's agricultural sector has restructured its FMD response framework to enhance coordination between government and private stakeholders, with focus on surveillance and disinfection measures in high-risk border areas to maintain the country's FMD-free status.
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani announced government approval of N$57 million for biosecurity measures to protect Namibia's FMD-free status, but said the country needs an estimated N$1.5 billion additional funding to establish vaccine storage facilities, buffer zones, and other disease containment infrastructure amid rising FMD cases in neighboring South Africa and Botswana.