Importation of fried chicken products from South Africa banned

The importation of fried chicken products from South Africa into Namibia has been banned, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has confirmed.

Ministry spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa on Monday said the prohibition applies to processed chicken products from fast-food outlets such as Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Hungry Lion, and Nando’s, which are classified as imports when brought into the country, often through border posts.

Nghipandulwa explained that the ban is enforced in line with the Animal Health Act No. 1 of 2011, which requires all animal products entering Namibia to be accompanied by valid veterinary import permits.

“If you read the Animal Health Act, we do not receive imported products without valid veterinary permits. The challenge with these products is that we do not know how they are prepared,” he said.

He emphasised that all such products must be certified by a competent veterinary authority in Namibia, noting that importing processed animal products carries inherent risks.

“Processed products are tricky, which is why authorities are not taking any chances,” Nghipandulwa added.

He clarified that the prohibition is not new, but that the ministry has intensified enforcement measures. Current import regulations require a valid veterinary permit for all animal products, whether processed or unprocessed, with specific conditions enforced by the chief veterinary officer.

These conditions often include health requirements, testing, quarantine measures, and restrictions on certain products, such as raw pork or wild pig meat. Recent regulatory amendments have also placed poultry and dairy products under stricter control.

The ban is largely motivated by ongoing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and various strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in South Africa.

“We do not allow any products without a permit and proper veterinary certification, especially when South Africa is facing disease outbreaks,” Nghipandulwa said.

HPAI primarily affects commercial poultry and wild birds, including African penguins and pelicans. Other infectious animal diseases of concern in South Africa include Rift Valley fever and rabies.

Nghipandulwa further noted that the ministry issued a public notice last month through its Directorate of Veterinary Services regarding the outbreaks, with some cases already detected in Namibia.

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