Goat levy put on ice

THE implementation of a 15 per cent export levy on goats has been postponed for 12 months.

Cabinet announced in Windhoek yesterday that it had approved the postponement at its latest Cabinet meeting. The levy would have mostly affected communal farmers in southern Namibia.The postponement is on condition that the Meat Board ensures the availability of alternative markets when the grace period expires.Cabinet has also exempted pickled skin exports from the 15 per cent levy for 12 months on condition that further processing is done locally at the end of the grace period.However the export levy on raw hides and skins has been increased to 60 per cent, up from the earlier 15 per cent levy.Cabinet also directed the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Justice to look at the possibility of amending the Meat Industry Act to transfer the issuing of trading licences to foreign livestock buyers from the Meat Board to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.All legislation that might have a bearing on the 1992 Import and Export legislation, Namibia’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation, the SADC Protocol on Trade and the 2002 Southern African Customs Union Agreement must be amended.The levy would have mostly affected communal farmers in southern Namibia.The postponement is on condition that the Meat Board ensures the availability of alternative markets when the grace period expires.Cabinet has also exempted pickled skin exports from the 15 per cent levy for 12 months on condition that further processing is done locally at the end of the grace period.However the export levy on raw hides and skins has been increased to 60 per cent, up from the earlier 15 per cent levy.Cabinet also directed the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Justice to look at the possibility of amending the Meat Industry Act to transfer the issuing of trading licences to foreign livestock buyers from the Meat Board to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.All legislation that might have a bearing on the 1992 Import and Export legislation, Namibia’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation, the SADC Protocol on Trade and the 2002 Southern African Customs Union Agreement must be amended.