July 6, 2012

Botswana to resume beef export to EU

Following the EU's lifting of Botswana beef export ban in 2011 for failing to meet EU standards, Botswana can resume exporting beef to the EU market starting next week, the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) revealed in a press release issued in Gaborone on Thursday (July 5).

According to BMC, the suspension lifting comes after Botswana complied with strict EU veterinary and quarantine procedures.

Although the reprieve took effect on June 27, the BMC said, the earliest that the BMC meat products can leave for the EU market is after Tuesday (July 3) when all the necessary certification processes have been done.

The BMC can start exporting its products to the EU starting from the date on which the amendments to the lists were communicated to the Department of Veterinary Services in Botswana, it pointed out.

This means meat from animals slaughtered at Lobatse (65 kilometres south of Gaborone) from May 16 can be exported to Europe, provided that they were coming from registered holdings that meet EU requirements i.e. "observing 40/90 day residency requirement", the release said.

The Botswana government, through its veterinary services as the competent authority, has put sufficient official controls in place to guarantee production of beef destined for the lucrative EU market.

This was done after the EU had observed deficiencies in official controls, abattoir operations and certification procedures. The EU had also noted non-compliance with the EU abattoir hygiene and animal traceability standards.

Cattle breeding are traditional activity in Botswana with the herd estimated at two million to three million heads. Agriculture accounts for 2.3% GDP mainly thanks to beef exports.