GUIDELINES FOR TAKING MEAT, MEAT PRODUCTS AND DAIRY FROM NAMIBIA TO SOUTH AFRICA
Namibia is known for its export quality meat, good tourism potential and unique hunting opportunities. A person visiting Namibia might want to take some of the meat back to South Africa. One headache, however, for the many visitors to Namibia, particularly hunters, is the restrictions on the export of meat from Namibia to SA.
Animal products taken into South Africa for own use may not be sold or traded by any other means. Animals and animal products requiring a veterinary import permit may only be taken to South Africa through the borders at Vioolsdrift, Nakop or in transit through Botswana via Ramatlabama, Skilpadshek and Groblersbrug.
For own consumption the following apply:
- Meat products to be exported should originate from the WOAH recognized FMD Free Zone of Namibia (area south of the VCF).
- A maximum of 25kg meat per person older than 18 years (cattle, sheep, goats, game and poultry meat) but excludes raw pork and or meat from wild pigs may be exported without a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate.
- A maximum of 10kg biltong per person older than 18 years may be exported without a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate.
- Other processed meat products (canned, cooked, polony, brawn etc) to the maximum of 25kg per person older then 18 years may be exported without a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate. However, when the volume exceeds 25kg per person a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate is required.
- No raw meat and biltong from equid origin are allowed to be exported to the RSA.
- In the event where the volume exceed 25kg to a maximum of 250kg per person, a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate are required.
- In the event where the volume of biltong exceeds 10kg to a maximum of 100kg per person, a South African Veterinary Import permit and a Namibian Health Certificate is required.
- For own consumption no LLPBN export permit is required.
The following products may however not be exported from Namibia to South Africa without a veterinary import permit irrespective of the quantity:
- any animal or animal by-product from the foot and mouth disease affected regions (north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence);
- any edible products where the mass exceeds the specifications above;
- no raw pork and/or meat from wild pig may be taken to RSA for own use;
- non-edible products for commercial use;
- raw unprocessed or half processed game trophies;
- artworks containing raw products like skins or any trophies and drums covered with unprocessed skins from the foot and mouth disease affected regions;
- manure;
- bones, teeth, claws or horns in big quantities;
- bone meal or carcass meal;
- live animals
Border posts
The Namibian Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), Livestock, and Livestock Products Board of Namibia have officials at the following border posts where meat products may be transported to South Africa: Noordoewer, Buitepos en Ariamsvlei.
No meat permit and health certificates will be certified at any border. These permits must be certified by the State Veterinarian from the area from which the meat originates.
Meat and meat products from RSA to Namibia
No raw and unprocessed meat, dairy or their products are allowed into Namibia as per the Directorate of Veterinary Services Public Notices 10 and 15 of 2022.
General Information
It is important to take note that various organisations (Livestock and Livestock Products Board, Directorate Veterinary Services, Directorate Customs and Excise, Namibian Police, and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism) are on duty at the border posts and banned products will be confiscated without compensation.
The LLPBN only issue permits for products under its mandate such cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, dairy and its products.
LLPBN Personnel areeasily identifiable with the blue uniforms, a LLPBN Board logo on their shirt pocket and they are also in possession of an official LLPBN identification card that they need to produce.
It is further important that Namibian producers, hunters and/or tourists avail themselves of the necessary requirements to take meat (beef, game and mutton) as well as dried meat products like biltong to South Africa, since this ignorance on the part of the meat or biltong hunter will not be accepted.
Enquires:
- DVS: Export permits +264 61 2087892
- LLPBN: Export permit: +264 61 275830;
- LLPBN Border Control: Gerhard Jooste +264 81 767 0555 | Collin Kazongominja +264 81 258 3183
