The National Farmers Union is urging the administration to oppose a proposed rule that would make Namibia eligible to export meat to the United States. NFU Senior Vice President of programs Chandler Goule says the African nation has problems with foot and mouth disease.

He says if that fence is removed and Namibia is allowed to export to the U.S, then America’s livestock industry is put at risk of getting F-M-D.

Goule says the United States needs to implement stricter and more consistent import rules.

Goule says the U.S. has been F-M-D free since 1929. He notes the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom resulted in the slaughter and or burning of nearly 3 million animals. And the total losses to their agriculture and food chain amounted to over $ 4 billion. Prior to that they had been F-M-D free for 34 years.
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