The ban in Zimbabwe on all imports of animal and animal products from SA is still in place, according to a business executive with extensive interests in Zimbabwe. This followed extensive efforts to try to get some form of official notification from Zimbabwe’s ministry of agriculture or the customs authorities. The ban was originally imposed on March 30, and, according to the ministry, was because of reports of a series of outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in the Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces in February. The SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) told FTW at the time: “We understand that the ban covers all animal and dairy products” – which would include beef, milk (in all forms), cheese, butter, yogurt, dairy juices, icecream, chocolate, chickens, table eggs, hatching eggs, pork products, salamis, pies, processed meats, tinned goods (beef, ham, meatballs, Viennas) and even fish.” The ministry of agriculture also said that the ban was “a temporary and precautionary measure and will be lifted once the situation is addressed in SA” – and that it was “working together with the SA government” on the issue.
