Outlets run out of chicken products after import ban

FOLLOWING a ban on poultry imports after an outbreak of bird flu in South Africa last month, popular chicken outlets in Windhoek have run out of some chicken products.

Namibia late last month suspended imports from South Africa and Belgium, following outbreaks of the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu in the two countries, the directorate of veterinary services (DVS) announced in June. DVS chief veterinary officer, Adrianatus Maseke, said in a public memo dated 23 June that they wanted to inform importers and the public of the “suspension of the importation and in-transit movements of live poultry, birds, poultry products, ostriches and ostrich products from South Africa and Belgium due to the outbreak of the highly contagious avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in poultry. Several KFC outlets The Namibian has visited since last week in Windhoek had run out of the popular and affordable chicken wings. KFC outlets at Wernhil Park, Tal Street and in Pionierspark shopping centre have had no wings for the past couple of days.