EU suspends some Namibian meat imports over foot-and-mouth outbreak
The EU has temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat and some processed products from Namibia after foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on a farm in the south. Processed meat given the EU's most severe risk-reducing treatment can still enter.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The European Union temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat, and some processed meat products, from Namibia on Monday 5 October after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Anadolu AgencyN “The European Union temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat as well as some processed meat products from Namibia on Monday” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ RFIN “"The EU has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into its territory of fresh meat of cattle, sheep and goats...,"” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2In a statement issued in Windhoek, EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins said the suspension also covers certain farmed and wild hoofed animals and products such as biltong and jerky. Anadolu AgencyN “the suspension also covered certain farmed and wild hoofed animals as well as products such as biltong and jerky” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ RFIN “The suspension included meat from relevant farmed and wild hooved animals, and certain processed meat products, it said in a statement.” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2Processed meat that has undergone the most severe risk-mitigating treatment can still enter the EU market. RFIN “Processed meat that had undergone "the most severe risk-mitigating treatment" remained eligible for entry, it said.” Read at RFI ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “processed meat that has undergone the EU’s prescribed high-level treatment to reduce foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) risks can still enter the European market” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Martins said the measures aim to protect animal health while Namibia works to contain the outbreak, and she praised the country's veterinary services for responding with speed and transparency. Anadolu AgencyN ““Namibia has responded with speed and transparency, and we commend its veterinary services for their professional response,” Martins added.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2FMD was confirmed on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in late September. RFI reports the outbreak was declared on 22 September and has since spread to 11 farms, according to officials. Anadolu AgencyN “FMD was confirmed on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in the southern African nation in late September.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ RFIN “Since the outbreak in southern Namibia was declared on 22 September, it had spread to 11 farms, officials said.” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 1Namibian authorities notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and restricted the movement and export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products. WOAH suspended Namibia's FMD-free status for the affected zone from 26 September. Anadolu AgencyN “WOAH subsequently suspended Namibia’s FMD-free status for the affected zone with effect from Sept. 26.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1RFI says this is Namibia's first FMD outbreak in its primary commercial livestock zone in 60 years, and that it prompted a nationwide ban on livestock movement and meat exports. Agriculture ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda told AFP the response includes intensified surveillance, tracing and testing, movement controls, veterinary roadblocks and biosecurity measures. RFIN “Namibia announced last month its first outbreak of foot-and-mouth (FMD) in its primary commercial livestock zone in 60 years, prompting a nationwide ban on livestock movement and meat exports.”“The government's disease-control response included intensified surveillance, tracing and testing, movement controls, veterinary roadblocks and biosecurity measures” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 1The EU is Namibia's largest beef market, taking more than 80 percent of beef exports, or about 10 million kilogrammes a year. Martins told Namibia's NMH media that a quarter of the 40,000 direct jobs tied to exports to Europe would be affected. RFIN “The EU is Namibia's largest beef market, accounting for more than 80 percent of beef exports.”“A quarter of 40,000 direct jobs involved in exports to Europe would be affected by the suspension, she said.” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 1The EU delegation noted that more than six million animals were culled during the last major FMD outbreak in the EU in 2001. The disease has also struck Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. RFIN “During the last major FMD outbreak in the EU in 2001, more than six million animals had to be culled, the delegation's statement said.”“The disease has struck several southern African countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.” Read at RFI ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the suspension as a precautionary animal-health measure, built mainly on the EU delegation's statement and Ambassador Martins' remarks. Anadolu leads with the ambassador's quote. RFI leads with the EU's role as Namibia's biggest beef market and recalls the 2001 European outbreak.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu stresses the EU's praise for Namibia's response and the WOAH status change. RFI stresses the economic exposure (over 80% of beef exports, jobs) and the spread to 11 farms.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu gives no figures on trade value, jobs or farms affected. RFI does not mention the WOAH suspension of FMD-free status or the Karasburg district.
- Charged language
- “wreaked havoc”
- For example
-
““The measures are aimed at protecting animal health while Namibia works to contain the outbreak.” — Anadolu Agency
“The EU is Namibia's largest beef market, accounting for more than 80 percent of beef exports.” — RFI
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The EU has temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat and some processed meat products from Namibia.
- Processed meat given the EU's high-level risk-reducing treatment can still enter the EU.
- The suspension follows an FMD outbreak in southern Namibia in late September.
- EU ambassador Ana Beatriz Martins is the main source.
European Union organisation
Through its delegation and Ambassador Ana Beatriz Martins, the EU presents the suspension as temporary and aimed at protecting animal health. It commends Namibia's response and keeps market access for heavily treated processed meat.
““Namibia has responded with speed and transparency, and we commend its veterinary services for their professional response,” Martins added.” — Anadolu Agency
“Processed meat that had undergone "the most severe risk-mitigating treatment" remained eligible for entry, it said.” — RFI
Namibia place
Namibian authorities notified WOAH and restricted movements and exports. The agriculture ministry says it is intensifying surveillance, tracing, testing, roadblocks and biosecurity.
“Namibian authorities notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and introduced restrictions on the movement and export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products.” — Anadolu Agency
“The government's disease-control response included intensified surveillance, tracing and testing, movement controls, veterinary roadblocks and biosecurity measures” — RFI
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
-
EU suspends some meat imports from Namibia over foot and mouth disease outbreak
Neutral Short report built on the EU ambassador's statement, noting Namibia's notification to WOAH and the EU's praise for its response.
-
RFIN ·
EU suspends beef exports from Namibia due to foot and mouth disease
Neutral Puts the suspension in economic and historical context: Namibia's dependence on the EU market, jobs at risk and the 2001 EU outbreak.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Oct 04:04 First Anadolu AgencyN EU suspends some meat imports from Namibia over foot and mouth disease outbreak
- 6 Oct 14:17 +10h 13m RFIN EU suspends beef exports from Namibia due to foot and mouth disease
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.