SADC to meet over foot-and-mouth

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans to hold discussions over a foot-and-mouth disease crisis affecting member countries, according to news reports. South Africa officially has the highest rate of infection and has culled thousands of head of cloven hoofed animals, a situation which has had dire consequences for cattle farmers in two of the country’s provinces. Swaziland became the latest affected country and in recent weeks over 200 head of cattle were slaughtered in a bid to contain the highly infectious disease.

SADC members have expressed concern at the impact the disease could have on meat exports and domestic cattle herds, DPA reported. Many member countries have banned meat imports from affected areas in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique since the disease broke out last year. Botswana, meanwhile, has taken steps to control the cross border movement of animals vulnerable to the disease by mending fences along its borders with South Africa and Zimbabwe, a SAPA report said. Botswana exports 85 per cent of its meat products to the European Union. No date has been announced for the SADC meeting.