Zambia Closes Borders to South African Livestock Amid Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease Outbreak
Zambia bans livestock imports from South Africa to prevent spread of foot-and-mouth disease
- Zambia suspends all livestock imports and transit from South Africa amid FMD outbreak.
- Ban covers cloven-hoofed animals, dairy products, hides, and related items.
- Measures aim to protect Zambia’s livestock industry while monitoring South Africa’s situation.
Zambia has suspended all imports and transit of livestock from South Africa in an urgent biosecurity move to protect its animal health sector, officials said, following a worsening outbreak of foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa.
The Zambia Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced that all previously issued import permits for South African livestock have been revoked with immediate effect. The ban covers cloven‑hoofed animals, including cattle and sheep, as well as related products such as feeds, skins, hides, trophies and dairy items unless strict mitigation measures are applied. Transit of live animals through Zambia from South Africa has also been halted.
Spokesperson Benny Munyama said the measures aim to shield Zambia’s livestock industry from the highly contagious disease, which has spread widely across South Africa and prompted Pretoria to declare an FMD national disaster.
South African authorities are responding to the outbreak by launching mass vaccination campaigns and importing vaccine doses from partners abroad to curb the spread among cattle. Zambia’s livestock control measures will be reviewed depending on developments in South Africa’s disease situation.
