Farmers in the northern part of the country wishing to have their cattle slaughtered at the Botswana Meat Commission for the lucrative European Union market will have to wait a bit longer for that to happen as Francistown abattoir is yet to slaughter for EU markets.
This was said by the BMC Public Relations Manager, Tiro Kganela, who explained that Francistown, abattoir unlike the Lobatse one, has not yet met all the conditions set by the EU to enable its products to be sold to that market.
“Francistown abattoir is still to meet the set conditions as we speak as such its products will not be sold to EU,” he said. Asked when that will happen he said that all he could say on that is that all the stakeholders are working hard to make sure that it also complies so as to be able to sell to EU as well
On the Lobatse abattoir, which has been approved to sell to EU, he said that the earliest time meat from the abattoir can leave for EU is after July 10, 2012 when all the necessary certification processes have been done.
He explained that the meat to be sold to EU at that time will be that coming from animals slaughtered at the BMC, coming from registered holdings that meet the EU requirements of observing 40\90 days residency (kept feed lots ) requirements.
He said that the Botswana government, through the Department of Veterinary Services, has put into place sufficient official controls to guarantee production of beef destined for EU market from cattle producers to consumers.
Botswana was delisted from selling to EU markets after the EU had complained about lack of cattle traceability as well as the hygiene in the abattoirs.
