Foot and mouth: suspension of fresh meat and biltong/jerky from Namibia

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2238 of 2 October 2026 amending Annexes XIII and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Namibia in the lists of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat and meat products of certain ungulates

Update

Following a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Namibia, the European Union (EU) has suspended imports of fresh meat of beef, sheep and game ungulates and biltong/jerky type processed products, from the zone of the country authorised to export to the EU (zone NA-1, from Palgrave Point in the west to Gam). Other processed meat products from beef and sheep that have received an appropriate treatment to mitigate risks of FMD may still be exported to the EU.

Impacted Products

beef, sheep, game ungulates, biltong/jerky type

What is changing?

Meat can only be exported from countries, or in some cases specific zones within a country, that have been authorised and listed by the EU (Regulation 2021/404, Annex XIII for fresh meat and Annex XV for processed meat).

One zone in Namibia (zone NA-1, from Palgrave Point in the west to Gam) is authorised by the EU for the export of matured and de-boned beef, sheep and game ungulates.

However, due to an outbreak of FMD confirmed on 23 September 2026 in the region of ǁKharas, part of zone NA-1, the EU has suspended imports of fresh meat and biltong/jerky type processed meat from this zone (Regulation 2021/404, Annexes XIII and Annex XV (Section B)).

Namibia may continue to export to the EU processed meat from beef, sheep, and wild game (Regulation 2021/404, Annex XV (Section B)) provided it has undergone risk-mitigating treatment B: treatment in a hermetically sealed container to a F_o value of three or more (Regulation 2020/692, Annex XXVI).

Why?

To protect its animal health status, the list of non-EU countries authorised to export animal products to the EU is regularly updated in response to emerging animal health risks in exporting countries.

Timeline

No consignments of fresh meat and biltong/jerky type from Namibia slaughtered and certified from 23 September 2026 may enter the EU market.

Consignments certified before 23 September 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 21 December 2026 (90 days).

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 and 10) states that to export fresh meat and processed meat to the EU, countries must be listed both in Regulation 2021/404, Annex XIII (fresh meat) and XV (processed meat) 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 2021/405, Annex XVIa, ex-2024/2598; see List of non-EU countries compliant with new EU antimicrobial requirements).

Resources

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