WINDHOEK, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is making changes to its Meat Industry Act to include dairy and poultry, aiming to strengthen the country's food production and reduce reliance on imports.
Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein said by including dairy and poultry within the regulatory framework, the government aims to strengthen industry competitiveness, promote import substitution, and improve the country's balance of trade.
The amendments will help regulate the importation of dairy and poultry products and support local producers, Schlettwein said.
"Reliance on imports not only presents a food security risk but also associates with economic and financial risks like imported inflation, exchange control, and balance of payment risks," he said.
The amendments put forward in the new bill include several key changes where the definition of livestock and livestock products will be expanded to encompass poultry, along with any other animal or meat products that the ministry deems necessary.
Additionally, the Meat Board of Namibia that regulates the meat industry will be renamed the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia to align with its broader mandate.
To facilitate effective management, the bill proposes a new levy payment system for producers regulated under the act while the minister will be granted powers to make subsidiary legislation through regulations or notices.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a visualization tool for international trade data, Namibia depends on imports for 80 percent of its food consumption, most of which is imported from South Africa. ■