Ministry bans maize, palm plant products from South Africa

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has announced a ban on the importation of maize and palm products from the Free State, North-East and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa.

“The ministry wishes to inform producers, importers and the general public about the ban of importation, and in transit maize and maize products, as well as palm and palm products from the Free State, North-East and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

This follows a detection of bud rot of palms and Goss’s wilt on maize in the provinces.

Goss’s wilt is a bacterial disease that infects and wilts corn plants. It also causes extreme leaf blighting.

Bud rot is a disease that affects the growing tip of palm trees, resulting in the deformation of new leaves.

The statement says the ministry cancelled the importation and in-transit permits of the affected plants and their products.

“The ministry hereby revokes all permits issued for the importation of aforementioned plants and plants’ products and suspend the issuance of new import and in transit permits for these plants and plants’ products with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

It notes that these actions will remain in effect until a pest-free area is established in South Africa and measures to stop the pest from coming into Namibia are taken.

“The ministry will put phytosanitary measures in place to prevent the introduction of the pest into Namibia,” the statement says.

The ministry urged importers and the general public involved in the importation of affected plants and plants’ products to adhere to the notice to prevent the introduction and spread of the pest, it said, adding that it will continue to monitor the situation, and updates will be made in collaboration with South Africa.