The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition through Competent Veterinary Authority lifted the suspension on the importation of specified livestock and livestock products from the Republic of South Africa (RSA) with immediate effect.
This is according to the department of livestock services circular No. 5 of 2026 shared by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane on his Facebook page.
The circular indicates that the uplift is subject to the sanitary requirements prescribed in the relevant veterinary import permits which states that the importation of red meat and pork from RSA may resume only where the products originate from abattoirs approved by the South African Component Veterinary Authority (SACVA) for export and specifically approved or recognised by the Lesotho Veterinary Authority (LVA).
It adds that the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals from RSA may resume only where such animals originate from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) compartments approved by SACVA and recognised or approved by the LVA for export to Lesotho.
However, it indicates that the importation of commodities such as feet, heads and viscera, including offals from RSA shall remain prohibited until further notice.
It further indicates that illegal importation, misrepresentation of consignments, importation from unapproved establishment or compartments, and failure to comply with the prescribed veterinary requirements constitute offence under the Stock Disease Proclamation No. 10 of 1896 and Importation and Exportation Act of 1952 as amended in 1984.
It therefore emphasised that non-compliant consignments may be refused entry, detained, returned, seized, destroyed or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the applicable laws and veterinary requirements and offenders may also be subject to prosecution.
The government of Lesotho imposed restriction on the importation of livestock and livestock products from RSA with reference to the Ministry’s Circular No. 3 of 2025, following the incursion of FMD in that country.
Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]
