Foot and mouth: restrictions on fresh beef from Botswana
- Animal diseases
- Animal health
- Third country lists
- Animal health controls
- Official controls
Summary
Following a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana, the European Union (EU) has suspended the authorisation of beef exports from Botswana’s Maitengwe zone.
Foot and mouth disease: EU removes a region of Botswana from its list of territories meeting animal health requirements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/451 of 23 February 2026 amending Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Botswana in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates
Update
Following a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana, the European Union (EU) has suspended the authorisation of beef exports from Botswana’s Maitengwe zone.
Impacted Products
Beef, sheep meat, goat meat, game meat
What is changing?
Beef can only be exported from countries, or in some cases specific regions within a country, that have been authorised and listed by the EU (Regulation 2021/404, Annex XIII).
The EU has authorised several regions of Botswana that meet EU animal health requirements for the export of matured and de-boned beef, sheep, goat, and game meat (wild and farmed game). Due to an outbreak of FMD confirmed on 13 February 2026, the Botswana Veterinary Disease Control zone 3c (Maitengwe) in Botswana has been removed from this list (BEACON 2026).
Why?
The EU regularly updates the list of non-EU countries authorised to export animal products to the European Union in response to emerging animal health risks in exporting countries, in order to prevent the spread of animal diseases into the EU.
Timeline
No consignments of fresh beef slaughtered and certified after 29 January 2026 will be accepted from this zone.
Consignments certified before 29 January 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 29 April 2026. (29 January is the date when FMD was confirmed in the neighbouring zone 6b, which is already suspended.)
Recommended Actions
Botswana is not authorised to export beef from the Maitengwe zone (zone 3c) that has been certified after 29 January 2026. To be re-authorised, Botswana will need to demonstrate that FMD is eradicated in that zone. There are still four zones of Botswana that can continue to export beef to the EU.
Background
The EU’s Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) provides a framework for monitoring animal health issues and responding to risks. To export products of animal origin to the EU, non-EU countries must demonstrate that they meet EU animal health requirements in relation to particular species and categories of animals or products.
Regulation 2020/692 sets out the animal health requirements for imports into the EU.
Regulation 2021/404 establishes the list of authorised non-EU countries (“third countries”) that meet the EU’s animal health requirements. The list is regularly updated, for example if there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease, or an improvement in the animal health situation, within a country.
Regulation 2021/405 (Art. 3) states that to export fresh meat to the EU, countries must be listed both in Regulation 2021/404, Annex XIII and Regulation 2021/405, Annex -I (see Lists of non-EU countries for public health and animal health – explained).
In addition, from 3 September 2026 non-EU countries must also be authorised and listed in relation to the use of antimicrobials (Regulation 2024/2598; see List of non-EU countries compliant with new EU antimicrobial requirements).
Botswana can only export beef to the EU; it is not yet authorised for meats other than beef in Annex -I of Regulation 2021/405 or in Regulation 2024/2598.
Resources
BEACON (2026) Botswana confirms outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) serotype SAT1 in North-East District; WOAH suspends FMD-free status of Zone 6b, with suspected cases detected in Zone 3c (Maitengwe). Disease Events, 4 February. Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network, Boston University.
Online resources from the European Commission:
- EU entry conditions
- Establishment Lists
- Access2Markets: Exporting from the EU, importing into the EU – all you need to know
The procedure for non-EU countries to apply for listing is described at the end of the following factsheets:
- European Union import conditions for poultry and poultry products
- EU import conditions for fresh meat and meat products
World Organisation for Animal Health: Terrestrial Animal Health Code
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products (Official Controls Regulation)
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (Animal Health Law)
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 laying down the list of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption […] as regards the application of the prohibition on the use of certain antimicrobial medicinal products
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 laying down the lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 laying down rules for the application of Regulations (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2017/625 as regards model animal health certificates, model official certificates and model animal health/official certificates, for the entry into the Union and movements within the Union of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods, official certification regarding such certificates
Sources
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/451 as regards the entries for Botswana in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates
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Foot and mouth disease: EU removes a region of Botswana from its list of territories meeting animal health requirements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/451 as regards the entries for Botswana in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates
What is changing and why?
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in Botswana’s Maitengwe region (Control zone 3c) on 13 February 2026. The European Union (EU) has suspended the possibility of exporting beef slaughtered and certified after 29 January 2026 from Botswana’s Maitengwe zone to the EU, to protect the EU from the potential spread of FMD.
Actions
Botswana is not authorised to export beef from the Maitengwe zone (zone 3c) that has been certified after 29 January 2026. To be re-authorised, Botswana will need to demonstrate that FMD is eradicated in that zone. There are still four zones of Botswana that can continue to export beef to the EU.
Timeline
No consignments of fresh beef slaughtered and certified after 29 January 2026 will be accepted from this zone.
Consignments certified before 29 January 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 29 April 2026.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.