Animal products imported for own use may not be sold or traded by any other means. Animals and animal products requiring a veterinary import permit may only be brought from Namibia through the borders at Vioolsdrift, Nakop or in transit through Botswana via Ramatlabama, Skilpads¬hek and Groblersbrug.

A veterinary import permit is required for the import of more than 25kg of meat or 10kg of biltong and dried wors, as this is not viewed as import for own use, with the importer in such a case having to meet the requirements for commercial import. Biltong and dried wors must be dry enough to be broken. These requirements are limited per person older than twelve up to a maximum of 4 persons.

A South African veterinary import permit is required for the import of all by-products from wild and farmed pigs to prevent the outbreak of all swine diseases in South Africa. Permits for these products will be considered on an individual basis and can be denied.

A 25kg amount of meat per passenger aircraft, light delivery vehicle or truck, including per person using an airline, may be imported without a South African veterinary import permit or veterinary health certificate from the foot and mouth disease free area, viz. south of the red line cordon fence in Namibia. Proper controls are in place at all the fence through-routes to also prevent the movement of meat to the foot and mouth disease free regions of Namibia.

When a person wants to import between 25kg and 250kg of meat, a South African veterinary import permit and a veterinary certificate must be obtained from the export country. It is accepted that meat quantities above 250kg is not for personal use, so these persons must apply for a commercial veterinary import permit.

The following products may however not be imported without a veterinary import permit irrespective of the quantity:
• any animal or animal by-product from the foot and mouth disease regions;
• any edible products where the mass exceeds the specification;
• no pork, chicken and/or wild pig may be brought to Namibia for own use;
• non edible products for commercial use;
• raw unprocessed or half processed trophy game;
• artworks containing raw products like skins or any trophies and drums covered with unprocessed skins from the foot and mouth disease regions;
• manure;
• bones, teeth, claws or horns in big quantities;
• bone meal or carcass meal;
• live animals

Meat for own use is allowed subject to the following terms: 25kg mutton/ beef per person to a maximum of 4 persons per vehicle. (Person must be 12 years and older.) Meat for own use is allowed on the following conditions:

The following permits are thus required for the import of 25kg to 250kg of meat from Namibia to South Africa:
• South African veterinary import permit, an
• export permit from the Namibian Veterinary Services,
• permit from the Namibian Livestock and Livestock Products Board.

Contact the Namibian Veterinary Services in Windhoek for more information concerning export permits and the offices where such permits can be obtained on +264 61 276 580. The Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia can be approached at +264 61 275830 or fax - +264 61 228310; you can also send an email to info@nammic.com.na.
Border posts
The Namibian Veterinary Services and Livestock and Livestock Products Board only have officials at the following border posts where meat products can be transported over the border to South Africa: Noordoewer, Buitepos en Ariamsvlei.

It is important to take note that various organisations (Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, Directorate Veterinary Services, Directorate Customs and Excise, Namibian Police, and the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) are on duty at the border posts. Livestock and Livestock Products Board Personnel are easily identifiable with the blue uniforms, a Livestock and Livestock Products Board logo on their shirt pocket and they are also in possession of an official Livestock and Livestock Products Board identification card that they need to produce. It is further important that Namibian producers, hunters and/or tourists avail themselves of the necessary requirements for the export of meat (beef, game and mutton) as well as dried meat products like biltong to South Africa, since this ignorance on the part of the meat or biltong hunter or tourist is abused. Should you experience any problems on the border posts, please call Mr. Wessels Horn (Cell No: +264 81 128 8545) of the LLPB.