DVS approves BMC for eu market

Principal public relations officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Boikhutso Rabasha revealed that the licence was issued after a recent inspection of the BMC carried out by the DVS. She noted that the DVS is set to contact the EU for the re-listing of the commission.

"If satisfied with the report, the EU will accept Botswana beef," she said, adding that the EU will decide when to start buying local beef. The BMC was de-listed from the lucrative EU market last year owing to a few outstanding requirements, among them the traceability of slaughtered animals. The decision followed an inspection of the BMC facilities by EU's Food and Veterinary Office in January last year. The commission further admitted to incurring huge losses due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) early last year. BMC communications and marketing manager, Tiro Kganela, said that they are pleased with the latest development.