The government of Mozambique is adamant on maintaining the ban on meat imports from South Africa. This is following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Limpopo province.
According to media reports, the head of the department for the prevention and control of diseases in the Ministry of Agriculture, Anabela dos Muchangos, said that since the outbreak was detected in South Africa earlier on this month, they have been monitoring the situation with their South African counterparts. She further noted that so far they have not managed to overcome the problem.
As such, Ms. Muchangos emphasized that the ban is continuing on the import of beef, pork and goat meat from South Africa. Moreover, the only products from South African hoofed mammals that can enter Mozambique are those that have been treated in such a way as to completely eliminate the foot-and-mouth virus, such as pasteurized dairy produce and heat-treated processed meats.
On the other hand, Muchangos said the South African outbreak should be seen as a great opportunity to stimulate sales of Mozambican meat. She also bemoaned the fact that Mozambican consumers seem to prefer imported produce to the Mozambican equivalent. She was however quick to attribute this to the relatively cheaper prices of the imports.
Muchangos said the authorities are stepping up vigilance to the border, ensuring that no South African animals or meat enters Mozambique. Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious disease that can devastate livestock herds.
