Circular v 7 /2019: CBT Protocol for the marketing of beef from the FMD Protection and Infected zones

of Namibia

PROTOCOL FOR THE MARKETING OF BEEF FROM THE FMD PROTECTION AND
INFECTED ZONES OF NAMIBIA USING THE COMODITY BASED TRADE APPROACH

BACKGROUND

A geographical approach to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) does not consider the differences
between the Southern African Territories (SAT) FMD viruses and Eurasian type FMD viruses in
terms of epidemiology, vaccine efficacy, spread and the presence of carrier wildlife. This
approach leads to restrictions and marketing constraints of beef produced by abattoirs in the
FMD Protection and Infected Zones of Namibia and resultantly have rendered these abattoirs
financially non-viable.

Abattoirs in the two zones (Northern Communal Areas (NCA)) of Namibia are slaughtering well
below capacity since the market for beef in the NCA is too small to absorb all the beef of the
slaughtered cattle.

In order to increase market opportunities for beef produced in the two FMD zones, these
Standard Operating Procedures (which are produced in accordance with the scientifically-based
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recommendations) should be followed to allow the
safe trade of beef from the Protection and Infected zones of Namibia to countries or zones that
may be FMD free.

FMD ZONES IN NAMIBIA

Namibia is divided into three FMD zones: the OIE recognized free zone, the protection zone and
the infected zone.

The FMD Infected zone comprises the entire Zambezi Region and including Mukwe
constituency in the Kavango East Region.

The FMD Protection zone borders the infected zone and high risk areas bordering Botswana in
the East, shares and open border with high risk areas of Angola in the North and borders the
FMD free zone in the South. The FMD Protection and Free zones are separated by a boundary
formed by a game and stock-proof double fenced corridor, the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF).

The FMD Free zone is situated in the areas south of the VCF and borders the free zones of
Botswana in the East and South Africa in the South and South-East.

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 Circular v 7 /2019: CBT Protocol for the marketing of beef from the FMD Protection and Infected zones of Namibia

Figure1: FMD zones of Namibia

OIE RECOMMENDATIONS
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) provides standards for the non-geographical
approach to FMD, in other words, providing standards for trade in beef from areas not free from
FMD.
Three options exist for trade in beef from areas not free from FMD:
1. Management of FMD along individual value chains to enable marketing of FMD virus-
free products;
2. Processing of beef to inactivate any FMD virus that may be present;
3. Compartmentalization involving integrated biosecurity measures.
The abovementioned standards are contained in Article 8.8.22, Article 8.8.31 and Article 8.8.4 of
the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, respectively. Research conducted in the Zambezi Region of
Namibia led to the adoption of the value chain approach by the OIE.
Taking into consideration the nature of the two zones in Namibia not free from FMD as well as
the practicality and cost of implementation, the (1) value chain approach and (2) processing of

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 Circular v 7 /2019: CBT Protocol for the marketing of beef from the FMD Protection and Infected zones of Namibia

beef to inactivate the FMD virus are the preferred options for trade in beef from areas in Namibia
not free from FMD.
MARKETING OF BEEF FROM THE FMD INFECTED ZONE
It should be taken into consideration that free-roaming African buffalo, which are carriers of the
FMD virus, are present in this zone and therefore regular outbreaks of FMD in cattle herds can
be expected. The preferred options for safe marketing of beef from the infected zone of Namibia
is the (1) value chain approach and (2) processing of beef to inactivate the FMD virus. It is
intended that the two systems could be implemented concurrently. This will allow the abattoir
operators to:
1. Enable market segmentation;
2. Target markets in which NCA beef could be economically profitable;
3. Potentially continue operations in the face of FMD outbreaks.
(a) Value Chain Approach
OIE Requirements for safe marketing of beef according to the value chain approach from FMD
Infected zone in Namibia as captured in Article 8.8.22 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code
(2018) :
1. Cattle must be vaccinated against FMD at least twice, with the last vaccination not more
than 6 months and not less than 30 days prior to slaughter;
2. Cattle must undergo a period of quarantine of at least 30 days at a quarantine facility
approved by DVS
3. Cattle must be transported from the quarantine station to the abattoir in cleaned and
disinfected vehicles and not trekked;
4. The abattoir must be approved by the Directorate of Veterinary Services for the
implementation of the value chain approach and the export of beef;
5. Cattle must be inspected before slaughter and the carcasses must be inspected after
slaughter with no evidence of FMD;
6. The carcasses must be matured at a temperature greater than +2˚C for a minimum period
of 24 hours after slaughter and pH tested in the middle of the Longissimus dorsi muscle
7. Only carcasses with pH less than 6.0 are eligible to be marketed under the value chain
approach.
8. All major lymph nodes must be removed from the carcass;
9. The carcass must be deboned.

Step by Step guide to the value Chain approach:

Step 1: Cattle from an area or crush pen where no veterinary restriction exists;
Step 2: The cattle have remained, for at least three months prior to slaughter, in a zone and
are regularly vaccinated against FMD;
Step 3: Cattle transported to the quarantine station in disinfected trucks;

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Step 4: All cattle must be inspected by DVS for clinical signs of FMD on arrival at the
DVS supervised quarantine station;
Step 5: DVS to verify identification and establish vaccination status of cattle via the
Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS):

1. Cattle which were vaccinated at least twice :

 First vaccination should be within the last twelve (12) months,
 Second vaccination should be within the last six (6) months
These animals must be quarantined for 30 days with no additional vaccination.
2. Cattle which were vaccinated within the last 6 months: Here animals must be re-vaccinated
on Day 1 of quarantine and be quarantined for 30 days.
Note! Animals in point 1 and 2 above may be quarantined together.
Step 6: While in the quarantine camp Cattle will be inspected on day 15 or 16 for clinical
signs of FMD by DVS officials or at any time whenever necessary;
Step 7: Cattle inspected for clinical signs of FMD by DVS after the quarantine period
before loading to the abattoir;
Step 8: Cattle must be transported in cleansed and disinfected vehicles from the
quarantine station to the abattoir one day prior to slaughter. Cattle should be
allowed adequate resting period when offloaded as animals need to be in a good
physiological state when being slaughtered in order for beef to reach the desired
pH during maturation. Cattle may not remain in lairages for longer than 24 hours
without feed, as this would negatively impact the physiological state of the
animals;
Step 9: Cattle must be inspected by DVS for clinical signs of FMD prior to slaughter
(ante-mortem inspection);
Step 10: Cattle slaughtered under supervision of DVS. Ensure proper bleeding of the
carcass. Postmortem meat inspection must be done by DVS;
Step 11: Carcasses must be placed in a chiller at a constant temperature greater than + 2˚C
for a minimum period of 24 hours after slaughter in order to undergo veterinary
maturation;
Step 12: After a minimum of 24 hours of veterinary maturation, the pH must be measured
by DVS in the middle of the Longissimus dorsi muscle (eye fillet) of each half-
carcass. Sort carcasses according to pH:
 Carcasses with pH 5.4 – 5.9 qualify to be marketed as chilled / frozen beef to
areas free from FMD, or to be processed;

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 Carcasses with pH 6.0 to 6.2 qualify to be marketed as chilled / frozen beef in the
entire NCA, or to be processed;
 Carcasses with pH 6.3 – 6.4 can only be marketed as chilled / frozen beef in the
FMD Infected zone, or be processed; and
 Carcasses with pH of 6.5 and above must be processed.
Step 13: All visible lymph nodes and major blood vessels must be removed from each
carcass. Tissues that do not undergo acidification during maturation include
blood, major lymph nodes and bone marrow and must be removed without
contaminating the meat;
Step 14: Carcasses should be deboned. Proper technique is needed to prevent
contamination of meat with bone marrow and to ensure bone fragments in cuts are
left to a minimal;
Step 15: Meat cuts packaged and cartons placed in chillers / freezers according to earlier
sorting OR processed;

(B) Processing Of Beef

Step by Step guide for processing of Beef to inactivate FMD virus
Requirements for processing of beef for safe marketing from the FMD Infected zone in
Namibia:
1. The abattoir and processing facility must be approved by DVS;
2. Cattle originate from an area or crush pen where no veterinary restriction exists;
3. Cattle are transported in disinfected trucks to the abattoir;
4. The cattle are inspected by DVS prior to slaughter (ante-mortem), and the carcasses must
be inspected after slaughter for signs of FMD (post-mortem);
5. Carcasses must be placed in a chiller at a constant temperature greater than + 2˚C for a
minimum period of 24 hours after slaughter in order to undergo veterinary maturation;
6. After a minimum of 24 hours of veterinary maturation, the pH must be measured by DVS in
the middle of the Longissimus dorsi muscle (eye fillet) of each half-carcass;
7. The meat products must be processed to inactivate the FMD virus as follows (OIE Article
8.8.31):
 Thorough cooking:
Meat, previously deboned and defatted, and meat products are subjected to a heat treatment that
results in a core temperature of at least 70 ˚C for a minimum of 30 minutes. After cooking, they
should be packaged and handled in such a way that they are not exposed to a source of FMD;

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 Canning

Meat and meat products are subjected to heat treatment in a hermetically sealed container to
reach an internal core temperature of at least 70°C for a minimum of 30 minutes or to any
equivalent treatment which has been demonstrated to inactivate FMDV;

 Drying after salting

When rigor mortis is complete, the meat is deboned, treated with salt (NaCl) and ’completely
dried’. It should not deteriorate at ambient temperature. Completely dried' is defined as a
moisture protein ratio that is not greater than 2.25:1 or a water activity (Aw) that is not greater
than 0.85;

Operations during an FMD outbreak in the Infected Zone

During an FMD outbreak declared by DVS, movement restrictions will be placed in accordance
with the FMD Contingency plan. Cattle must only be procured from areas where no restriction is
placed on the movement of livestock;

During an outbreak, the processing of meat and meat products to inactivate the FMD virus could
offer a solution to ensure continued operations at the abattoirs in the infected zone. For
processing of beef to inactivate the FMD virus, the OIE does not require cattle to be quarantined
for a period of 30 days, meaning that during an outbreak situation, and with special provision by
DVS, healthy cattle could potentially be channeled directly to the abattoir without moving cattle
to quarantine farms/camps and risking the health status of cattle currently in the quarantine. All
cattle MUST be inspected for clinical signs of FMD prior to and after slaughter and can only be
utilized for processed product if no signs of FMD are evident upon such inspection;

Cattle already in the quarantine camp during an outbreak must be treated as follow:
1. If ALL the animals already in the quarantine camp at the time at which an outbreak was
declared originate from areas outside of the outbreak area as defined by DVS, these animals
may complete the quarantine period and be slaughtered in accordance with the value chain
approach as detailed above and be marketed as frozen/chilled meat and /or

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processed product. Weekly inspection for signs of FMD must be conducted by DVS during
the rest of the quarantine period;

2. If ANY of the animals in the quarantine camp at the time at which an outbreak was declared
originates from areas inside the outbreak area as defined by DVS, then ALL cattle in the
quarantine camp must be inspected for signs of FMD and be slaughtered and channeled for
processing only. Animals can only be slaughtered after 30 days from the last day of
vaccination;
3. Should movement restrictions prevent cattle from entering the quarantine station and thus
affect abattoir throughput, cattle already in the quarantine station qualifying to be slaughtered
in accordance with the value chain approach could be utilized for processed product even if
the required quarantine period has not been completed but only once the withdrawal period in
the case of vaccinated animals has been completed;

4. Any animal showing clinical signs of FMD in the quarantine station will lead to general
restrictions placed on the movement into and out of the affected quarantine station and
implementation of the FMD Contingency plan;

MARKETING OF BEEF FROM THE FMD PROTECTION ZONE

It should be taken into consideration that the protection zone of Namibia shares an open border
in the North with Angola a country not recognized by OIE as FMD free and also borders the
FMD Infected zones of Namibia and Botswana in the East. The Protection Zone cannot be
regarded as free from FMD and the preferred options for safe marketing of beef from the
protection zone of Namibia are (1) value chain approach and (2) processing of beef to
inactivate the FMD virus.

It is intended that the two systems could be implemented concurrently. This will allow the
abattoir operators to:

1. Enable market segmentation;

2. Target markets in which NCA beef could be economically profitable;
3. Potentially continue operations in the face of FMD outbreaks.

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 Circular v 7 /2019: CBT Protocol for the marketing of beef from the FMD Protection and Infected zones of Namibia

(A) Value Chain Approach

This approach is the same as for the Infected Zone of Namibia as outlined above through Step 1
to Step 15 with the additional requirement under step 16:

Step 16: For cattle which have never been vaccinated OR for which the status is unknown OR
for which the last vaccination was more than 6 months ago: Cattle must be inspected by DVS
officials for signs of FMD and vaccinated with trivalent purified FMD vaccine in the quarantine
on Day 1 and on Day 21 or Day 28 and be quarantined for the further 30 days. Total quarantine
period = 51 or 58 days.

(B) PROCESSING BEEF TO INACTIVATE THE FMD VIRUS IN THE PROTECTION ZONE
Procedures to be followed in the protection zone are the same as for the Infected Zone of
Namibia as outlined above.
Operations during an FMD outbreak in the Protection Zone
Procedures to be followed in this the protection zone are the same as for the Infected Zone of
Namibia as outlined above.

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