Namibia authorises US poultry imports after 2022 ban

Effective 1 July 2025, US exporters are eligible to ship fresh, frozen and chilled poultry products to Namibia, opening access to a market valued at approximately N$255 million, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) media release dated 1 July.Additionally, the USDA stated that it had “successfully negotiated the removal of burdensome export and transit permit requirements for processed poultry products”, reopening a previously restricted channel."President Trump is renegotiating the status quo of bad trade deals that have left American farmers and ranchers behind for far too long. Our agriculture is the best in the world, and under President Trump’s leadership, we are providing more markets for farmers to share their bountiful harvest. The announcement today is a win for farmers, a win for exporters, and a win for freedom-loving nations who want access to safe, high-quality US food,” said US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, in the release.While the USDA framed the development as a significant “trade win”, Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture clarified that the decision to allow poultry imports is strictly based on sanitary standards and not on trade or economic policy.Avian fluNamibia had imposed a ban on poultry imports from the United States in May 2022 following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several US states. The ban was lifted after the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service provided updated disease control certifications, clearing eligible US producers to export poultry products to Namibia again.“The decision to allow imports is based on compliance with Namibia’s sanitary measures rather than on timing considerations,” ministry spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa was quoted as saying in the Windhoek Observer. He emphasised that import permits were issued under the Animal Health Act of 2011, which governs the entry of animals and animal products into the country.“The issuance of veterinary import permits follows a risk assessment for zoonotic and poultry diseases,” Nghipandulwa explained, underscoring that sanitary considerations are the sole basis for import approval.According to the USDA release: “Namibia’s decision to recognise US food safety standards and the work performed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service affirms the global reputation of USDA’s inspection system, which ensures that American poultry products are not only competitively priced, but rigorously verified for safety and wholesomeness.”Nghipandulwa added that the ministry was not required to consult the local poultry industry before issuing the permits.“Sanitary measures fall under the sole responsibility of the competent authority as provided for by the Animal Health Act. This should not be confused with quantitative restrictions imposed by other institutions for industry protection under frameworks such as the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) of Namibia Act, under which poultry is a controlled product,” he said.Limits on importsNamibia maintains a monthly poultry import quota of 1 200 tonnes, managed under the Poultry Market Share (PMS) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued under Government Notice No. 7132/2020. These SOPs regulate how import quotas are allocated among registered importers to safeguard domestic producers’ market share.Poultry is a vital sector for Namibia’s agriculture, ranked as the second-largest contributor to agricultural production. According to the Namibian Poultry Producers’ Association (PPA), the industry’s production value reached approximately N$1.74 billion in 2024, representing a 13% increase over 2023. The cattle industry remains the largest, valued at about N$3.2 billion in the same year.The Ministry of Agriculture’s Vote 37 budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year allocates around N$5 million towards strengthening the poultry sector. This funding supports regulatory oversight, market access initiatives, and capacity-building programmes to help farmers increase productivity and compete effectively.Room to moveAccording to UN Comtrade data for 2023, Namibia imported poultry products across three main categories: live, fresh or chilled whole poultry, and prepared or preserved poultry.Live Poultry (HS 0105)&bull; Namibia imported approximately N$34.1 million (USD1.95 million) worth of live poultry in 2023, totalling 601 626 birds.&bull; Zambia: N$18.9 million (USD1.08 million) - 193 278 birds&bull; South Africa: N$12.6 million (USD718 000) - 325 186 birds&bull; Belgium: N$2.7 million (USD152 000) - 83 160 birdsFresh or Chilled Whole Poultry (HS 020710)Imports reached approximately N$1.62 million (USD92 450) in 2023, weighing about 62 tonnes.&bull; Argentina: N$820 000 (USD46 730) - 44.9 tonnes&bull; Spain: N$315 000 (USD17 970) - 8.8 tonnes&bull; Thailand: N$237 000 (USD13 630) - 3.7 tonnesPrepared or Preserved Poultry (HS 160239)Prepared and preserved poultry imports were the largest category by value and volume, totalling around N$56.5 million (USD3.23 million) and approximately 1 215 tonnes.&bull; South Africa: N$53.2 million (USD3.04 million) - 1 130 tonnes&bull; Brazil: N$2.3 million (USD130 870) - 61.7 tonnes&bull; Eswatini: N$580 000 (USD33 220) - 15 tonnesIn total, Namibia imported about 1 275 tonnes of poultry products in 2023 (excluding live poultry), combining fresh or chilled whole poultry (about 62 tonnes) and prepared or preserved poultry (around 1, 215 tonnes). This remains far below the country’s monthly import quota of 1 200 tonnes, which would allow up to 14 400 tonnes annually.

Namibia authorises US poultry imports after 2022 ban

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Republikein 2025-08-12

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Namibia authorises US poultry imports after 2022 ban

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