EU Lifts Ban On Gantsi Beef

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.