International organization that Namibia notifies regarding affected meat consignments and whose standards guide disinfection procedures for livestock transport.
World Organisation for Animal Healthreceived notification ofNamibia's FMD outbreak
Source
“The EU said the measure is a precautionary animal-health response and follows Namibia's notification of the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the introduction of measures to control animal movements and exports.”
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)sets the framework wherebyan FMD-free zone without vaccination can regain status three months after disposal of the last animal killed
Source
“It cites the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) framework, under which an FMD-free zone without vaccination can regain status three months after the disposal of the last animal killed, provided the relevant conditions and evidence requirements are met.”
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)recognisedFMD-free zone where outbreak was confirmed
Source
“The measures are contained in Veterinary Public Notification No. 15 of 2026, issued following confirmation of the FMD outbreak in the country's World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)-recognised FMD-free zone.”
World Organisation for Animal Healthprovides standards fortruck cleaning and disinfection procedures
Source
“Under the proposed system, trucks would be cleaned and disinfected at approved facilities using appropriate disinfectants and procedures aligned with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.”
World Organisation for Animal Healthmade recommendations fortwo-stage spray system design
Source
“The two-stage spray system uses water in the first station to remove dirt from vehicles, followed by a disinfectant spray in the second station to inactivate the FMD virus, in line with recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health.”
World Organisation for Animal Healthsets standards forFMD-free status without vaccination designation
Source
“The redline designates the southern zone as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free without vaccination under the World Organisation for Animal Health standards.”
World Organisation for Animal Healthpublisheda global map of FMD-free status by country
Source
“According to a global map published by the World Organisation for Animal Health, only a small number of countries and zones fall into the FMD-free without vaccination category, placing Namibia's livestock sector within a highly regulated and competitive segment of the global market.”
World Organisation for Animal Healthis required forexport reinstatement after FMD outbreak in verified eradication process
Source
“It warns that "reinstatement is rarely immediate; it requires structured surveillance, verified eradication, World Organisation for Animal Health recognition, and bilateral renegotiation of export protocols," a process that can take "12 to 24 months or longer."”
World Organisation for Animal Healthregistered Namibia's FMD-free zone asfree without vaccination
Source
“Namibia's FMD-free zone is registered with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as free without vaccination, a status that allows access to high-value international meat markets.”
The European Union has temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat and some processed meat products from Namibia following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease on a commercial farm in Karasburg, though processed meat meeting EU high-level FMD treatment standards may still enter the market. EU ambassador Ana-Beatriz Martins praised Namibia's speed and transparency in response.
The European Union has temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat and some processed meat products from Namibia following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease on a commercial farm in Karasburg, though processed meat meeting EU high-level FMD treatment standards may still enter the market. EU ambassador Ana-Beatriz Martins praised Namibia's speed and transparency in response.
The European Union has temporarily suspended entry of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat and certain other animal products from Namibia's previously FMD-free zone following an outbreak confirmed on 23 September 2026 in the //Kharas Region, described as a precautionary animal-health response. Processed meat that has undergone prescribed EU risk-mitigation treatment remains eligible for entry, and consignments of fresh meat certified before 23 September may enter within 90 days.
The government is investigating a Namibian meat shipment returned from Europe following foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and is consulting European partners to establish whether the consignment originated from the affected area. Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani said Namibia would notify the World Organisation for Animal Health to determine how affected consignments should be handled.
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani told the National Assembly that the government is developing a plan to support farmers affected by Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions, while consulting with international trading partners over meat shipments and new zoning measures. Opposition PDM leader McHenry Venaani questioned reports of a N$400 million meat shipment being returned from Europe and called for fuller National Assembly briefing on FMD developments.
Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani told Parliament that the government is developing a plan to support farmers affected by Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions while consulting with international trading partners over meat shipments and zoning measures. PDM leader McHenry Venaani questioned reports of a meat shipment worth about N$400 million being returned from Europe and called for Parliament to be briefed on the FMD outbreak.
Private veterinarians supporting Namibia's FMD response have proposed nine measures to strengthen surveillance, improve traceability and speed recovery towards FMD-free status, including deployment of more than 20 volunteers. The proposals include publishing the estimated date of initial infection as a reference point, maintaining surveillance of traced cattle, and announcing compensation arrangements within seven days.
A Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak confirmed in the //Kharas Region on 23 September is expected to cost the economy about N$1.8 billion over 2026 and 2027 and reduce 2026 economic growth by 0.45 percentage points, with nationwide livestock movement restrictions disrupting farming, meat processing, and exports valued at approximately N$5.5 billion annually.
Namibia is developing a plan to divide its foot-and-mouth disease-free livestock zone into smaller zones following an FMD outbreak at a commercial farm in the ||Kharas region. Authorities are assessing costs and logistics, though some farmers worry stricter movement controls could create operational bottlenecks.
Following detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in the //Kharas Region, the Directorate of Veterinary Services has suspended movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products nationwide, banned their marketing and trade, halted slaughter at export and local abattoirs, and established roadblocks to enforce controls.
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.
Botswana is intensifying efforts to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following outbreaks that raise concerns for cross-border animal health and livestock trade in the region, including Namibia. Botswana's agriculture minister said the disease has placed pressure on rural livelihoods, the livestock industry and the economy, while noting Botswana has historically managed to control FMD and maintain World Organisation for Animal Health recognition for zones free from the disease without vaccination.
South Africa is stepping up efforts to combat foot-and-mouth disease through increased vaccination, improved regulations, and cooperation between government and farmers, though over 1,800 of 2,764 reported outbreaks across five open FMD events remain active.
Young people at Otjombinde are clearing bush along the Namibia-Botswana border to erect a fence and prevent cattle movement that could spread foot-and-mouth disease, with about 70 community members assigned to the effort as part of government efforts to protect Namibia's FMD-free status.
Four Namibian farmers' organisations are raising at least N$50 million to help the government prevent foot-and-mouth disease, with N$12 million already pledged by unions, agribusinesses and financial institutions. The initiative responds to FMD threats in the SADC region and reflects the view that disease prevention is a shared national responsibility.
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.
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 uncontrolled cattle roaming the Namibia-Angola border annually, slow uptake of northern abattoirs, and lack of alternative grazing areas make removal of the veterinary cordon fence (redline) practically impossible in its current form, the agriculture minister told Parliament. The redline maintains the southern zone's foot-and-mouth disease-free status; its removal would risk compromising this countrywide.
Namibia is among a small group of countries globally recognized as free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease without vaccination, a status that provides access to high-value export markets for beef and livestock products. Maintaining this position requires strict disease control measures, regulatory compliance, and coordination between authorities and farmers.
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.
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.
A macroeconomic risk analysis by Simonis Storm Securities warns that if foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) disrupts Namibia's access to key international beef markets, the country could lose up to N$2.5 billion in export revenue over six months, with potential GDP growth reduction of 0.5 percentage points. Although Namibia remains FMD-free, recent outbreaks in Botswana and South Africa—particularly a case reported last month in South Africa's Northern Cape province, which borders Namibia—heighten the risk to the country's livestock sector and livelihoods of 70,000 to 90,000 workers in the industry.
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.
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.
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.
The Deputy Executive Director of Agriculture has warned that any foot-and-mouth disease outbreak could jeopardise Namibia's access to lucrative beef markets, emphasising the importance of maintaining the country's FMD-free status recognised since 1997. Regional FMD outbreaks in South Africa and Botswana have elevated the risk profile and drawn international scrutiny to Namibia's disease status.
Foot-and-mouth disease cases in South Africa's Northern Cape and Botswana pose a significant risk to Namibia's livestock industry, valued at N$15 billion. The government has approved N$57.5 million for prevention but says N$1.5 billion more is needed to strengthen protective measures and maintain international market access.