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EU Statement on the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Namibia

The European Union has been informed by Namibian authorities of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak on 23 September 2026 on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District, //Kharas Region. FMD is one of the most serious and highly contagious of animal diseases. We are saddened by this outbreak and recognise the serious impact this will have on Namibia animal health status, farmers’ livelihoods and the wider economy. 

EU - Nam statement
© EU-Namibia (AI GENERATED)

Following confirmation of the outbreak, the Namibian authorities acted promptly, notifying the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and introducing measures to control the movement and ban the export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products. Following the notification, the WOAH has suspended the FMD-free status of Namibia with effect from 22 September 2026. The EU commends the Namibian authorities for their swift action and transparent communication.

The European Union has remained in close contact with the Namibian authorities to discuss the outbreak and the measures required to protect animal health in the EU, in line with international standards. As such, the EU has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into its territory of fresh meat of cattle, sheep and goats, as well as relevant farmed and wild ungulates and certain processed meat products (biltong/jerky-type products) from Namibia’s previously FMD-free zone. Processed meat that has undergone the prescribed in the EU legislation the most severe risk-mitigating treatment remains eligible for entry into the EU.

The measure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 October 2026, with 23 September 2026, the date on which the first FMD outbreak was confirmed, as the closing date for entry into the EU of the relevant commodities. The consignments of fresh meat of ungulates certified by the Namibian competent authority before the date of the first FMD outbreak (23 September 2026) should be permitted to enter the Union (during the period of 90 days from that date) based on EU legislation and without prejudice to the decisions by the Border Control Posts of the EU Member States.

These are precautionary animal-health measures, consistent with international standards and comparable to measures taken by Namibia and other trading partners following FMD outbreaks. The EU will continue to assess the epidemiological situation in close cooperation with Namibia and stands ready to review the measures as animal-health conditions allow. The restrictions do not alter Namibia’s preferential trade access under the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement; they concern the animal-health conditions applicable to the affected products.

H.E. Ana Beatriz Martins, EU Ambassador to Namibia, said: “Namibia has responded with speed and transparency, and we commend its veterinary services for their professional response. The EU and Namibia have a longstanding partnership, including in trade and agriculture. We stand ready to continue working with the Namibian Government and its veterinary authorities as they work to contain the outbreak and protect farmers’ livelihoods. We are also assessing how we can further support Namibia in this difficult task.”

Background: 

For more information on the relevant EU regulation, please see Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.

For more information on FMD, please find more information on the website of WOAH:  https://www.woah.org/en/disease/foot-and-mouth-disease/

During the last major FMD outbreak in the EU in 2001, more than six million animals had to be culled. The outbreak caused major disruption to agriculture and the food industry, but also to tourism and other rural businesses. Across the four affected EU countries, the United Kingdom (then a member of the EU), France, Ireland and the Netherlands, approximately N$20.7 billion in direct costs were declared (around N$86 billion in 2026 terms). This figure does not capture the much larger indirect economic losses caused by the outbreak.