UITVOER VAN GENETIESE MATERIAAL NA BUURLANDE / EXPORT OF GENETIC MATERIAL TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
UITVOER VAN GENETIESE MATERIAAL NA BUURLANDE
Tydens die onlangse gesprek tussen verteenwoordigers van die rooivleisbedrywe van Suid-Afrika, Namibië en Botswana is die verbod op die invoer van genetiese materiaal van groot- en kleinvee vanuit Suid-Afrika weens dié land se huidige bek-en-klouseerstatus, indringend bespreek.
Hierdie verbod lei tot groot nadelige veeverbeterings- en finansiële implikasies vir beide invoerders en uitvoerders. Produsente in Namibië en Botswana het ‘n dringende behoefte aan teelmateriaal uit Suid-Afrika om die genetiese produksiepotensiaal van hul diere te verbeter.
Daar is egter maniere waarop genetiese materiaal wel vanuit positiewe lande uitgevoer kan word. Die Wêreldorganisasie vir Dieregesondheid (WOAH), gee voorstelle in hierdie verband in hul statute wat met die nodige insette prakties uitvoerbaar is. Na aanleiding hiervan werk die Genetiese Uitvoeradvieskomitee, ‘n advieskomitee van die nasionale Dieregesondheidsforum, onverpoosd om die nodige protokolle vir die uitvoer van genetiese materiaal weer in plek te kry.
Verskeie voorstelle om hierdie dringende saak te beredder is al vanuit produsentegeledere aan die onderskeie Departemente van Dieregesondheid gemaak, maar weinig vordering word gemaak. Telkens wanneer vordering wel ‘n sekere punt bereik, word dit opnuut deur ‘n nuwe beperking van die owerhede gekniehalter.
Hierdie situasie begin om produsente se produksievermoë ernstig te benadeel en ná deeglike besinning is daar besluit om vir eers op die uitvoer van semen te konsentreer, aangesien daar nie probleme behoort te wees met semen wat tussen 2013 en 2019 getap is nie. Beide Namibië en Botswana se produsente verwelkom dié moontlikheid as ‘n tussentydse oplossing totdat daarin geslaag kan word om ook bulle en ramme van Suid-Afrika af in te voer. ‘n Dringende opname gaan dus in Suid-Afrika gedoen word om te bepaal hoeveel semen van watter rasse, uit daardie periode beskikbaar is.
Die gereelde gesprekke tussen Suid-Afrika, Namibië en Botswana se produsenteverteenwoordigers om oplossings te vind, sal onverpoosd voortgaan. Verder het Botswana se boereverenigingverteenwoordigers onderneem om ‘n dringende skrywe aan die RPO te rig om hul behoefte aan genetiese materiaal te beklemtoon. Dit sal dan onder die Suid-Afrikaanse owerheid se aandag gebring word.
Dr Pierre van Rooyen,
Voorsitter : Genetiese Uitvoeradvieskomitee
EXPORT OF GENETIC MATERIAL TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
The ban on the import of genetic material of small and large stock from South Africa due to the country’s Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) status were discussed during a meeting between representatives of the red meat industries of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
This ban has a detrimental effect on both importers and exporters in terms of livestock improvement and finances. Producers in Namibia and Botswana has an urgent need for breeding material from South Africa in order to improve the genetic production potential of their animals.
However, there are ways in which genetic material can be exported from FMD-positive countries. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) provides suggestions in its statutes in this regard, which are practically feasible with the necessary inputs. Following this, the Genetic Export Advisory Committee, an advisory committee of the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF), is working continuously to put the necessary protocols in place in order for genetic exports to resume.
Various suggestions to solve this urgent issue has been made by producers as well as the different departments of animal health, but little progress is being made. It happens time and again that when some progress is made up to a certain point, it is obliterated by yet a new restriction enforced by the authorities.
This situation has a serious detrimental effect on producers’ production ability and after thorough reflection, it was decided to focus at this stage only on the export of semen, because no problems should be encountered with semen which has been tapped between 2013 and 2019. Producers of both Namibia and Botswana welcomed this possibility as an interim solution until it can be succeeded to also import bulls and rams from South Africa.
Thus, an urgent survey will be conducted in South Africa in order to determine how much semen from what species are available from that period of time.
The frequent talks between producer representatives of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana will continue in order to find solutions. Furthermore, Botswana’s farmers’ union representatives have undertaken to direct an urgent letter to the RPO to emphasise the need for genetic material. The South African authorities will be informed of the matter.
Dr Pierre van Rooyen,
Chairman : Genetic Export Advisory Committee
