Meatco has highlighted that clarification by the European Union on temporary animal-health measures following Namibia's Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak will allow eligible consignments to reach their intended markets and help reduce the immediate commercial impact on the livestock value chain.

The EU says fresh-meat consignments certified before 23 September may still enter the market for 90 days from that date, subject to legislation and decisions by Border Control Posts.

Meatco Interim CEO, Ambassador Albertus !Aochamub, says the measure will help the company remain commercially viable and meet its financial obligations.

"The relief that we have received allows us to remain commercially viable, continue to keep all our people employed, and meet our short- and medium-term financial obligations to all creditors. We are hopeful that after the 90-day restriction, a better picture emerges. When the EU says it has absolute confidence in Namibia's ability to maintain an FMD-free status without vaccination for 60 years, that means something works. As a country, we need to celebrate that, even in the middle of a crisis."

The EU said it will continue assessing the situation, and the measures remain subject to review as animal-health conditions allow.

!Aochamub noted that Meatco is considering three possible scenarios after the 90-day period.

"One is that the ban on exports remains. The second possibility depends on whether there are any new outbreaks during that 90-day period. If the disease spreads beyond the epicentre in the ||Kharas Region, the ban will remain. But if the epicentre holds and the disease is controlled, production and movements within the country could resume. A third possibility is the production and supply of meat to the African continent, the Middle East and other Asian countries that do not have strict FMD requirements for exports. These are possibilities, but we are not there yet."

He assured that Meatco will comply with all measures aimed at safeguarding Namibia's animal-health system and restoring normal market access as soon as possible.