Cargo suspected of being contraband and potentially compromising South Africa’s efforts to curb foot and mouth disease (FMD) was intercepted by the Border Management Authority (BMA) last week.
This was confirmed by BMA commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato.
The authority said on November 26 that Port Agriculture officials had “intercepted an aircraft from Kenya and Tanzania carrying veterinary medicine, Berenil, in two polystyrene boxes weighing about 84 kilograms”.
The cargo was allegedly in transit through the Polokwane International Airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport.
“The consignment was initially refused entry as it did not have the requisite import permits as provided for in Section 6 of the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984.”
The BMA said that after discussing the matter with the Department of Agriculture, it was decided that the product had to be confiscated and taken to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.
The Transboundary Animal Diseases Laboratory (OVI-TAD) will do further analysis of the confiscated cargo.
Masiapato said the BMA was fully aware of the current FMD outbreak that the country was grappling with.
A media statement said the BMA supported efforts to protect the national herd health and mitigate the negative impact that this has on market access and the economic development of local farmers.
“To that extent, we have strengthened vigilance and inspection services at the ports of entry to detect and intercept any illegal importation of untested biological and preventive veterinary products, including vaccines that may be injurious or harmful to local primary animal producers and economic prospects.
“The attempt to smuggle animal medicines and vaccines into the country is a significant breach of our veterinary and biosecurity regulations and is treated with utmost seriousness by the BMA.
“The BMA Port Agriculture unit remains committed to supporting the FMD control programmes of the Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders to ensure economic development of local producers and promote biosecurity measures for the Republic of South Africa.”
