The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has enhanced all livestock movement permits on the Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS).

According to the DVS Circular, volume four, published on 27 January 2021, the enhancement would only allow the pre-selection of ear tag numbers of registered animals and will ensure that only these animals move from one establishment to another using a livestock movement permit.

Establishments such as export abattoirs will no longer accept animals that are not registered or have missing movement permits. If found, they will be rejected for slaughter and sent back to the farm of origin.

The pre-selection will be implemented in phases, starting with movement to export abattoirs, which will come into effect immediately, while movement to gathering events and other establishments will be implemented from 1 April 2021.

As per DVS requirement, kindly bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all staff members and stakeholders at your state veterinary district.

According to Circular Volume 5 of 2021, all DVS staff members are informed that livestock keepers with outstanding movement permits will automatically be restricted for all in and out movements on their establishments until all outstanding movement permits are submitted to the nearest State Veterinary Office for capture.

A livestock keeper has 14 days to produce the permit at the nearest State Veterinary Office. This is stated on all movement permits, as part of the conditions, as well as the actions that will apply for non-compliance. No permits will be issued to livestock keepers with outstanding movement permits, as several validations have been built into the system to ensure compliance. The validations include warning messages that will inform the user that the livestock keeper is under restriction due to outstanding movement permits.

For more information and assistance contact the NamLITS Office at 061 258 501 or Dr J Erastus at 061 208 7307.