Zambia has suspended all imports of South African livestock and related products after a widespread foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak prompted Pretoria to declare a national disaster.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock revoked all existing import permits with immediate effect, citing biosecurity concerns.
The outbreak, affecting all nine South African provinces, has led to quarantines in the Western and Northern Capes. President Cyril Ramaphosa described it as one of the country’s worst FMD crises and established a task force to monitor containment efforts.
Vaccination plans aim to inoculate 14 million cattle over the next year, with doses sourced from Botswana, Türkiye, Argentina, and local producers.
Zambia’s ban covers live animals, animal feeds, trophies, hides, skins, dairy, and other cloven-hoofed products, and also halts transit of South African livestock through its territory. Authorities have indicated that the restrictions will be reviewed depending on developments in South Africa.