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The Role of Livestock for ACP countries: challenges and opportunities ahead Panel 2. Future policy challenges and opportunities for the ACP livestock sector Responding to the growing demand of livestock products ACP-EU - 1 July 2009. P. J. Strydom General Manager.
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The Role of Livestock for ACP countries: challenges and opportunities aheadPanel 2. Future policy challenges and opportunities for the ACP livestock sectorResponding to the growing demand of livestock productsACP-EU - 1 July 2009 P. J. Strydom General Manager • SADC untapped livestock resource base • Challenges facing SADC trade • NB: Importing country & consumer requirements • Experiences with SADC trade agreements • Prospects for future SADC trade • Opportunities
PERFORMANCE OF NAMIBIAN MEAT INDUSTRY-Export orientated - 85% (N$1.6 billion) • Cattle • 171 000 weaners (8 month; 180 – 240kg) South African feedlots • 115 000 steers – EU export abattoirs (Meatco & Witvlei) • Small stock • 190 000 sheep – South Africa (informal market) • 270 000 goats – South Africa Kwazulu-Natal (ceremonial market) • Beef • 9 400 tons – South Africa (Woolworths, Steers) • 9 500 tons – EU (UK, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands) • Lamb • 850 000 carcasses – South Africa (Checkers, Pick.n Pay, Spar) • ? (500) tons - Norway • Springbuck • ? (90) Tons - Norway
Challenges impeding SADC trade • Cost of importing country and consumer compliance • Trade agreements – improving trade? • Poor animal disease control and husbandry • Lack of marketing infrastructure and information • Lack of harmonized government policy and strategies • Cultural practices linked to ownership
Compliance to SPS requirements (1) • Set by importing country & consumers • Costly to small economy countries: • Meat hygiene and abattoir facilities • Establishment of disease-free zones & fencing • Namibia has 3 and Botswana 17 veterinary zones • Implementation of quality assurance schemes, e.g. FANMeat (Namibia) • Enactment of legislation; Prohibition of hormonal substances, routine antibiotics supplements & animal by-products
Compliance to SPS requirements (2) • However: additional importing country standards: • Maturation and de-boning • BSE surveillance • Animal welfare • Private standards of retailers more strict • Responsibility of certification by competent authority • Consumer safety, traceability, bio-safety, meat quality • With limited finances & capacity • Compliance cost mainly upon meat • industries themselves • Exports to EU comply with standards
Trade advantages Volume and value of EU meat imports from Namibia (top) and Botswana (bottom) Namibia’s exports to the EU and South Africa (in 2000 prices) Source ODI
Trade dilemmas • Maintaining and improving market access (EFTA, USA, SACU) • Finalisation EU market access • Namibia could loose 30.76 € million per annum • “Nullify” EU & Namibia investments • Job losses (direct - 203) • Socio-economic consequences (affecting160 000 farmers) • Equivalent to tariff increases of 72% for Botswana and 63% for Namibia • USA • Namibia concluded APHIS inspection & received certification • Awaits FSIS audit in due course • EFTA Increased quota to Norway • EU beef exports competing directly with small-scale producers
What is holding back the SADC livestock sector? • International standards & animal disease status • Difficult with free roaming game • Rudimentary networks and trading skills • Limited negotiating power and capacity • Capacity to negotiate with more capacitated countries • Mediocre livestock support services
What should SADC do? • SADC governments should play a more prominent and coherent role! • in utilizing livestock resource base • Adoption of a commodity-based approach to SPS certification (based on OIE rules) • Rethinking new approached to product certification • Without increasing importing country SPS risk • Engaged in market and product diversification • Free range, Farm Assured Namibian Meat, Country reared • Aid for Trade might cover cost of compliance • Industry’s contributing e.g. a levy (Namibia) • Mentorship program • Equal animal health status