Importation of meat from South Africa banned in Zimbabwe due to foot and mouth disease

Including Botswana and Kingdom of eSwatini, Zimbabwe has stopped the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa, following an outbreak of the highly contagious foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the South African province of Limpopo.

The Ministry of lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and rural resettlement has immediately banned the importation of the importation of live, cloven hoofed animals and related products from South Africa effective. This comes following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Limpopo Province of South Africa, as reported by Bulawayo 24.

"The control of foot and mouth disease involves implementation of trade restrictions," the Ministry said in a statement. "Consequently all import permits that had been issued before 9 January 2019 are hereby cancelled.

Any import application will now be considered on a case by case basis depending on the risk.