#MeatIndustryAct

[newsbites]

News from Namibia, 21 July

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Namibia has issued an Environmental Clearance Certificate to Recon Africa for further oil and gas exploration in the Kavango Basin, despite controversy over the potential negative impact on the environment.

The approval of the certificate was done in accordance with national laws and regulations, ensuring that the project meets environmental standards and mitigates its impact.

Namibia recognizes the importance of balancing its energy sector development with its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, and believes that the oil and gas industry can coexist with these goals.

2. The National Council has approved a bill that will bring poultry, pork, and dairy products under the same regulatory authority as meat in Namibia.

The amendments to the Meat Industry Act will allow the Livestock and Livestock Products Board to effectively manage the importation of dairy, pork, and poultry products and address legal challenges faced in the past.

The inclusion of poultry and dairy in the bill will benefit local producers and consumers by regulating these subsectors and leveraging the expertise and resources of the existing Meat Board.

3. The UK is implementing visa requirements on visitors from Namibia and four other nations over what it claims are concerns about abuse in the migration system, particularly through citizenship by investment schemes and fraudulent asylum claims.

Namibia and Honduras rank highest among non-visa nationals for asylum claims, contributing to operational pressures and diverting resources from other priorities.

The UK government's crackdown on migrants attempting to claim asylum includes the Illegal Migration Bill, which has faced criticism from UN human rights officials for potentially violating international law.