EU Lifts Ban On Gantsi Beef

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Monday January 26, 2009 00:00

The EU spokesperson in Gaborone, Bester Gabotlale said last week that they responded positively to the Botswana government's request made on January 5, 2009 to lift the ban on beef from Gantsi. He stated that the EU's response, coming two weeks from the time the request was made is a boost to the Botswana beef sector.

Gabotlale explained that under the current Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which became effective last January, Botswana beef now enters the EU market quota and duty free. He stated that before the Interim EPA, the quota for Botswana beef was 18,600 tonnes per year and the export duty was eight percent.

He said the EU is satisfied that FMD has been eradicated from Gantsi and that is why the ban has been lifted. He explained that on March 2-6, 2009, EU monitors (DG SANCO inspection mission) will be in Botswana to inspect various facilities like the Botswana Meat Commission abattoirs. Gabotlale said the EU monitors will receive government comments on issues raised during the last inspection mission in March 2007.

'If there are still shortcomings not addressed, the EU inspectors will propose remedial action to address them. This also applies to new shortcomings during the forthcoming inspection mission. The last time the EU monitors were in Botswana was 2007,' Gabotlale said.

The Botswana government director of Veterinary Services, Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo said control measures will continue as usual because there are several activities, which the department wants to complete to ensure that the disease does not recur. He stated that such activities includes completion of Kuke fence upgrading from Kuke to Qabo and conducting a sensitisation campaign on foot and mouth disease preventive measures to farmers on either side of the Kuke fence. He indicated that the department is discussing with veterinary authorities in South Africa to lift the ban on the Gantsi beef. He revealed that as a result, the movement of beef from the district will only be relaxed from February 23, 2009.

Meanwhile after over two months without the occurrence of clinical foot and mouth disease in Ngamiland, new cases have been reported in Spanplerk and Roomane crushes in the Kareng extension area. Letshwenyo said affected animals have been confined and the rest are being re-vaccinated. He stated that the department has observed that in some cases, control movement protocols in Ngamiland are not observed. 'The department once again appeals to farmers and the public to strictly observe cattle movement protocols in the area,' he said.