While absolute figures are unavailable, previous estimates suggest the annual Norway quota contributes up to 10 percent of the BMC's revenues annually. The latest blow comes as the BMC prepares to slaughter for the Norway quota for 2013. The cattle to be slaughtered and exported by April, will be the first the BMC has processed since the disastrous attempt late last year to export to the European Union. The consignment was later returned on health safety concerns.
Trade and Industry Minister, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu told Parliament last week that Norway had indicated its intention to reclassify Botswana as a middle-income country and thus not eligible for the preferential market access it has been enjoying.The latest developments affect Namibia, which shares the Norwegian meat supply quota with Botswana. "These countries (Botswana and Namibia) will no longer benefit from the preferential market access into Norway (and) they will be subjected to competition with the rest of the world. This will affect our beef exports to Norway," she said.
