The Ministry of Agriculture’s Veterinary Services has banned the importation and distribution of salinomycin as a stockfeed.
The Acting Director of Veterinary Services, Edington Baipoledi, told the Sunday Standard that the decision to ban the use of the drug in the country was made after the realization that its use adversely affects people who eat beef from cattle that had been injected with the drug.
“We have taken this decision after realising that beef injected with this drug, which enhances growth of cattle, adversely affects people who eat the meat,” he said.
He added that, besides that, the decision was made following the decision by their trading partners where Botswana meat is marketed to phase out the substance.
Botswana’s major foreign beef markets are South Africa and Europe.
He said that the product will only be allowed to be used in poultry but subject to a strict withdrawal regime.
As a result of this decision, he said that farms and feedlots which have been using salinomycin should report to DVS offices for evaluation on the use of it. He further said that they should withdraw its use under the supervision of DVS and observe 15 days withdrawal period before resumption of sending animals for slaughter at the abattoirs.
Farmers are also advised to dispose of all feeds containing salinomycin under the supervision of DVS and for detailed farm records on this to be kept.
The EU has strict regulations on beef products entering its market. These have recently seen Botswana being delisted from countries that can sell to its market because of lack of hygiene in the country’s abattoirs, amongst other things. The ban still remains for Francistown abattoir whilst Lobatse abattoir is selling to the market under very strict conditions.
