Namibia halts meat exports after foot-and-mouth outbreak

Namibia has halted livestock movement and meat exports after recording its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in its main commercial livestock zone in 60 years, the agriculture ministry said.

The government ordered an immediate halt to all livestock slaughtering nationwide, including at commercial abattoirs, local markets and private gatherings.

Foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD, is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep and goats. It is not dangerous to humans.

The agriculture ministry said the virus breached Namibia's veterinary cordon fence, which separates the endemic northern region from the south, and spread into an area that had been officially FMD-free since 1964.

Agriculture ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda told AFP the outbreak would have a detrimental impact on the industry. Namibia exported more than 13,381 tonnes of beef in 2025, more than 90 percent of it to Europe, according to the livestock producers board Nammic.

State-owned processor Meatco said it was assessing the status of beef consignments already exported or in transit and would not speculate on whether any product may need to be returned.