06/05/2026
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - MEAT AND ANIMAL PRODUCT BAN UPDATE 04.09.25⚠️
Much confusion and lack of understanding is occurring with the latest and more strict enforcement on regulations with regards to all animal products ENTERING NAMIBIA FROM SOUTH AFRICA (CLOVEN HOOFED).
After contacting the relevant authorities and couple discussions with Dr Boshoff, I can confirm the following as correct:
In short and in layman's terms the following explains the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Services statement dated June 2025, paragraphs 3 and 4 as well as points 1.1 to 1.3 and shall apply:
· NO FOOD from any animal and their by-products is allowed FROM a disease high risk zone (South Africa) INTO a disease-free zone (Namibia).
· This applies to all raw meat from all poultry/chicken, pork, game, venison, beef, sheep/lamb/goats.
· Unfortunately, this NOW also applies to COOKED, PROCESSED, CANNED and DRIED/SMOKED products from animals. Thus, no cheese, no UHT milk, no yoghurt, no biltong or dröewors, as well as cheese and ham/salami for sandwiches, boiled eggs, russians/wieners, meatballs, chicken drumsticks for padkos as well as cooked frozen dinners.
See point 1.3 on the statement, officials are not stealing your food.
· The GOOD NEWS however is, you CAN APPLY for an OWN USE IMPORT PERMIT from the DVS in Windhoek for your COOKED ANIMAL PRODUCTS, PROCESSED milk, cheese, padkos and COOKED frozen dinners.
· This applies to all borders between South Africa and Namibia.
· This does NOT affect animal / meat products moving from Namibia (disease free) to South Africa (disease high risk), these regulations remain intact and the same – see reference https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BTLNs5cX4/
· Contact details for DVS Import/Export Office as below:
Tel: +264-61-303150 and +264-61-2087890/1/2
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
· Please refer to our saved post with suggested shopping conveniences within Namibia. Preordering is useful and helps these shops/stals with sufficient timeous stock. See link https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16tp49iwPG/
NB: see the meat board list of recommended butchers through out the country.
· Please note: the same applies to all animal products moving from the Veterinary Control Lines (aka Red Line) in the north of Namibia.
Animal / meat and its products may still move from disease free areas into the disease high risk zone.
Thus, you can STILL take it all INTO Etosha, but you cannot bring it out. SO it can move south to north BUT NOT north to south
Etosha lies north of the VCL disease high risk zone. Nothing changes here.
NB! Fish is not affected, as it cannot pass on FMD, Avian or Swine flu.