NAMIBIA – The Poultry Producers Association of Namibia has expressed its delight at the recent proclamation designating chicken, dairy, eggs, hides, and skins as controlled commodities per the Livestock and Livestock Products Act.
Rene Werner, the association’s chairperson, conveyed their long-standing engagement with the government and their satisfaction with coming under the regulatory purview of the Meat Board.
“This marks the beginning of a new journey for us and the Meat Board, and we wholeheartedly embrace this development,” Werner stated.
“As the industry’s regulator, the Meat Board will facilitate the growth of the poultry sector in terms of meat and egg marketing.”
He also pointed out that in the past six to eight months, Namibia has demonstrated the capacity to supply the local market with eggs, urging the Meat Board to regulate the importation of inexpensive eggs for the betterment of the local industry.
Namibian producers, ranging from large enterprises to village-based backyard operations, possess the capability to meet domestic demand and potentially export eggs to Angola.
However, they have faced challenges from the influx of cheap imports, endangering the viability of local production ventures.
According to the latest issue of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, Namibia has taken a significant step by amending the Meat Industry Act of 1981, transforming it into the Livestock and Livestock Products Act, which now encompasses the poultry and dairy sectors.
The Poultry Producers Association of Namibia is affiliated with NAU, which views this inclusion (effective from 22 August) as a pivotal move toward enhanced regulation, sustainability, and self-sufficiency in these crucial industries.
The Meat Board reported that the National Assembly recently approved the livestock and livestock products bill, which entails amending the Meat Industry Act to categorize chicken, dairy, eggs, hides, and skins as controlled products.
The Livestock and Livestock Products Act, initially governing cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and their meat products, now extends its jurisdiction to encompass poultry and dairy.
This legislative alteration empowers the Meat Board of Namibia to regulate poultry and dairy, ensuring that these domestic sectors contribute to the government’s overarching objective of augmenting production and value addition.
The new act also abolishes the Control of the Import and Export of Dairy Products and Dairy Product Substitutes Act of 1986. Furthermore, the Meat Board will be renamed the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia to align with its broader mandate.
The Meat Board, drawing from its successful management of related industries, will now oversee and regulate these sectors. The bill, introduced to the National Assembly in June by the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, underscored that the incorporation of dairy and poultry products into the Meat Industry Act will foster growth and development through a pro-growth approach.
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