Also known as: DVS
Government agency responsible for livestock health and disease control in Namibia, managing FMD prevention and rabies vaccination programs.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Directorate of Veterinary Services conducted regional SADC slaughter audit in November
“The Directorate of Veterinary Services conducted the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) slaughter audit in November, which the company says has paved the way for European Union export certification targeted for 2026.”
Savanna Beef secures N$40 million boostInformanté
Directorate of Veterinary Services suspended importation of bran and other milling by-products from Angola
“THE Directorate of Veterinary Services has suspended the importation of bran and other milling by-products from Angola.”
Namibia bans importation of bran from AngolaThe Namibian
Directorate of Veterinary Services has restricted the import of birds and fresh frozen bird products
“Following an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Brazil, the Directorate of Veterinary Services has restricted the import of birds and fresh frozen bird products.”
Namibia restricts Brazilian poultry imports over bird flu fearsNamibia 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.
4 July 2026 · Informanté →
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.
4 July 2026 · Informanté →
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.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
20 April 2026 · Informanté →
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.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
14 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
13 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
11 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
9 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
3 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
3 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
2 March 2026 · New Era →
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.
1 March 2026 · Informanté →
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.
27 February 2026 · Informanté →
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.
27 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
25 February 2026 · Informanté →
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.
24 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
21 February 2026 · Informanté →
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.
17 February 2026 · New Era →
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.
15 February 2026 · Informanté →
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.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani announced that Namibia requires an investment of N$1.5 billion to strengthen prevention and preparedness measures against Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which is currently affecting South Africa and Botswana. Cabinet has approved an additional N$57.5 million for critical FMD prevention activities, but the minister stressed that further investment is needed to protect the livestock sector valued at N$15 billion and preserve market access.
11 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Agriculture says Namibia's animal health systems are prepared to respond to foot-and-mouth disease risks from neighbouring countries experiencing outbreaks, and has implemented preventive measures including veterinary controls at ports of entry and a ban on meat and dairy imports from South Africa since September.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Agricultural Union reports that the poultry sector is the second-largest contributor to farmers' cash receipts, with broiler production up 14.94% in 2024 and egg production up 6.63%. Growth is expected to continue in 2025, though the sector faces challenges from high input costs, climate variability, and animal health risks including potential avian influenza spillover from South Africa.
9 February 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia remains free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease but remains on high alert as cases spread in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana. Veterinary authorities have implemented stringent border and import controls, and are urging farmers to observe strict biosecurity measures to protect the country's disease-free status.
7 February 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia has procured equipment, vaccines and materials to combat foot-and-mouth disease, and established mobile emergency stores to respond to suspected outbreaks. The move comes as South Africa and Botswana battle mounting FMD cases, prompting strict border controls and import bans to protect Namibia's status as one of Africa's few FMD-free countries.
3 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's N$8-billion annual red meat industry faces serious risk from foot-and-mouth disease spreading from South Africa, prompting authorities to implement biosecurity measures including vehicle disinfection at borders and a ban on South African meat, dairy, and live animals. Industry leaders warn that an outbreak would devastate exports to key markets including the EU, China, and the United States, causing farmer bankruptcies and widespread job losses.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Savanna Beef has raised an additional N$40 million in private equity funding from BPF Windsor Holdings Ltd, bringing total private equity financing to N$290 million. The company has completed its abattoir construction, begun meat production for training purposes, and is pursuing EU export certification targeted for 2026.
14 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has suspended importation of bran and milling by-products from Angola effective 5 January 2026, citing non-compliance with import requirements and disease risks to Namibian livestock. All previously issued import permits have been cancelled pending further agreement between the two countries' veterinary authorities.
9 January 2026 · Informanté →