HARARE – Zimbabwe has shelved plans to resume beef exports to the European Union after Brussels introduced stringent pre-export requirements, an official said yesterday.
“One of the major problems we have is that the EU wants all the cattle in the country to be identified to the farm and dipping tank of origin through ear-tagging,” Stuart Hagreaves, veterinary services principal director, told AFP. He said ear-tagging was “too costly” with the country reeling under economic crises.”We have shelved any plans of exporting because it (ear-tagging) is expensive, very expensive for us to do.”Unless we get our feet off the ground in terms of self-financing, then we cannot do it.”Zimbabwe stopped beef exports to Europe and Asia in 2001 after an outbreak of the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, but continued sales to neighbouring countries.It used to export some 9 000 tonnes of beef a year to Europe but production has taken a battering with Zimbabwe’s commercial herd decreasing from 1,5 million at its peak to 250 000 in recent years, according to official figures.Nampa-AFPHe said ear-tagging was “too costly” with the country reeling under economic crises.”We have shelved any plans of exporting because it (ear-tagging) is expensive, very expensive for us to do.”Unless we get our feet off the ground in terms of self-financing, then we cannot do it.”Zimbabwe stopped beef exports to Europe and Asia in 2001 after an outbreak of the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, but continued sales to neighbouring countries.It used to export some 9 000 tonnes of beef a year to Europe but production has taken a battering with Zimbabwe’s commercial herd decreasing from 1,5 million at its peak to 250 000 in recent years, according to official figures.Nampa-AFP
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