BMC resumes EU beef exports after a 12-day ban
Friday, April 29, 2016
Beef exports to the European Union (EU) and trading partners were suspended following the spotting of a buffalo, which is considered to be the a carrier of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), at Moreane in Lotlhakane East, Southern District. The lifting of the ban means that BMC will resume beef exports to the EU, which had been suspended following the ban. BMC spokesperson, Brian Dioka told BusinessWeek that the commission has already started buying livestock from farmers that are meant to be slaughtered for the EU market.
“We are going to work very hard to increase our quota and make up for the days that the abattoir has been closed,” he said. The commission, whose Lobatse abattoir had seen a lull for the past two weeks, has been losing throughput of cattle that could have been slaughtered in the 12 days of closure.
While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...