MBABANE – Eswatini has been forced to comply with several of its meat exporters’ conditions following the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) confirmed outbreak in the Shiselweni region.
The FMD detection was first announced on May 12, 2025, at the Mkhwakhweni dipping tank, with the disease later confirmed to have spread to Qomintaba.
It has forced the ban of Eswatini meat responsive markets, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Taiwan, and European Union member states.
In addition to international restrictions, neighbouring countries have imposed regional import bans on Eswatini’s livestock and animal products, effectively closing both regional and overseas trade routes for affected goods.
Some producers have reacted to the meat exporting business to be already at a standstill and significantly dealt a blow to both commercial and rural farming communities reliant on cross-border trade.
Smallholder farmers, meat processors, and agri-retailers are reporting sharp financial losses due to halted operations and product confiscations at border points.
Prohibited goods such as red meat, milk, hay, mung beans, and untreated grass are being seized and destroyed by border authorities as part of national containment measures.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade has launched urgent consultations with private sector stakeholders to assess the full impact of market shutdowns and formulate recovery strategies for affected exporters and businesses.
The focus is on supply chain disruptions, business continuity, and support for SMEs hit hardest by the ban.
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