The Livestock Association of Kenya (LAK) has called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the State Department for Livestock to immediately suspend all beef imports from South Africa following the declaration of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as a national disaster in the country.
In a strongly worded statement issued today, the association warned that continued importation of South African beef poses a major threat to Kenya’s livestock industry, which supports millions of livelihoods across the country.
According to LAK, South Africa is currently battling nearly 1,000 active outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease across several provinces, raising fears that infected products could find their way into the Kenyan market despite existing safety protocols.
The association specifically raised concern over premium beef importers, including Blacksteer & Co., which it says continue to facilitate the entry of South African beef products into Kenya.
“Allowing beef from a country currently in a state of disaster is a gamble Kenya cannot afford to take,” said a spokesperson for the association. “One slip in the deboning protocol at a South African facility could introduce a virus that would devastate the livelihoods of millions of Kenyan farmers and severely damage the country’s dairy and beef sectors.”
Foot and Mouth Disease is among the most contagious viral livestock diseases globally, affecting cattle, pigs, and sheep. While some importers maintain that deboned and matured beef presents minimal risk, LAK argues that the virus can survive through indirect transmission channels, including contaminated packaging, clothing, and transport equipment.
The association also questioned the ability of South Africa’s veterinary authorities to effectively manage the outbreak and maintain the integrity of export certification processes amid the growing crisis.
LAK noted that countries such as Zambia, China, and St. Helena have already suspended imports of South African beef as a precautionary measure and urged Kenya to adopt a similar stance to safeguard national biosecurity and food safety.
In its petition to the government, the association is demanding a full moratorium on all beef imports from South Africa until the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) officially declares the country free of Foot and Mouth Disease.
The association further called for tighter surveillance and enhanced inspections at all entry points, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to prevent the entry of animal products from affected regions.
At the same time, LAK urged the government to redirect local market demand toward Kenyan producers, saying the move would strengthen food sovereignty, support local ranchers, and create opportunities for youth-led livestock enterprises.
The association maintained that protecting Kenya’s livestock sector from avoidable biological threats must take precedence over the commercial interests of a few importers, warning that the stakes are too high for the country’s agricultural economy.
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