Namibia has lifted its ban on live poultry and bird imports from neighboring South Africa, the agriculture ministry announced on Friday.
The decision comes after a nearly year-long suspension imposed in September 2023 due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the neighboring country.
Namibia is a significant consumer of poultry, with an estimated monthly demand of 2,500 metric tons.
South Africa has historically been a primary supplier for the country.
The resumption of imports is expected to alleviate potential shortages and stabilize poultry prices in the Namibian market.
While Namibia has reopened its borders to South African poultry, the country has also taken measures to protect its poultry industry from other disease threats.
The agriculture ministry has suspended imports of live birds and uncooked poultry products from Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state following an outbreak of avian Newcastle disease.
To prevent the entry of contaminated poultry products, Namibia has implemented strict regulations.
Any consignments containing poultry products from Rio Grande do Sul that were packed after June 18, the date of the suspension, will be returned to the sender or destroyed at the importer’s expense.