Namibia Seeks Animal Health Act Inclusion for Bees

Namibia faces challenges in detecting and managing bee diseases due to insufficient coverage of bees under its animal health system. This issue was highlighted at a national apiculture workshop in Windhoek, which gathered government officials, beekeepers, farmers, researchers, honey traders, and training institutions to discuss sector challenges.

The workshop aimed to review beekeeping laws and policies, clarify government roles, and identify gaps affecting the industry, contributing to a National Apiculture Framework. Gretchen Burmeister, managing director of the Beekeeping Association of Namibia, noted that while laws exist to regulate bee health, implementation gaps remain.