Revised import requirements for livestock suspended

In a press release of 28 August, the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) has expressed its disappointed about the announcement of the director-general of agriculture, forestry and fisheries that the current import regulations for imports of livestock from Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana have been suspended with immediate effect from 26 August 2014. The previous import regulations have now been reinstated.

“This puts the animal health status of the South African national herd in grave danger,” said Lardus van Zyl, national chairman of the RPO. The director-general decided to take this step after the South African Feedlot Associations’ objections to the revised import requirements dated 30 April 2014 have been upheld.

The RPO is going to request the minister to keep the measurements of 20 April 2014 in place until the consultation process has been completed.