Namibia has a number of trade barriers. Beyond customs delays, the government has imposed a number of import and export restrictions, mostly on agricultural products. White maize, wheat, mahangu (pearl millet), and products derived from these three grains are controlled. Controlled grain crops can only be imported or exported with permits issued by the Agronomic Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR). For each controlled grain there are specific restrictions, but restrictions do not include price controls.
The government has also instituted an import substitution program for horticultural products requiring importers to source a designated percentage of produce from within Namibia before acquiring horticultural products from foreign markets. Farmers of livestock must demonstrate that they have complied with export restrictions before they are entitled to export. For example, for every live sheep exported, a farmer must have six sheep slaughtered within Namibia.
As a member of SACU, Namibia is bound by certain tariff quotas that affect the import of food products, namely butter, cheese, milk powder, and wheat.
Resources
· Ministry of Industrialization and Trade
· Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry
· Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
· Ministry of Health and Social Services
· Namibian Standards Institute
· Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU)
· World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review (TPR) of SACU.