Namibia has lifted its ban on live poultry and bird imports from South Africa, the agriculture ministry announced on Friday.
The ban, originally imposed in September 2023 due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in South Africa, has been officially revoked.
Namibia, which consumes around 2,500 metric tons of chicken per month, primarily depends on imports from neighboring South Africa to meet its demand.
In a separate move, Namibia’s 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. The ministry stated that any consignments of poultry products packed after June 18—the date the suspension took effect—will be returned or destroyed at the importer’s expense.