28 Jun 2016

Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has availed its best international standard product to the local market at affordable prices.

Speaking at launch of the retail product, BMC chief executive officer, Dr Akolang Tombale, said Batswana would now have access to a top quality beef, which was globally certified and could be traced right to the owner of the cattle.

The products, sold in small packages of 2.5 kgs, were launched at Sefalana Hyper Store and comprises of trimmings, stewing beef, brisket, bone in loin and oxtail and shoppers were treated to the best Botswana beef through a braai organised by the BMC.

Dr Tombale said the BMC was on a drive to diversify its market and was looking into exporting to Nigeria and Ghana.

This followed concerns over the uncertainties emanating from the British exit from the European Union, commonly referred to as the Brexit.

Many people had predicted the BMC would benefit from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) between SADC and the European Union (EU) which offers a duty free and quota free access to the then 28 member organisation with a population of over 500 million.

Dr Tombale said the beef they were making available locally was of international standard saying they subscribe to various organisations such as the British Retail Consortium which gives them access to other markets adding their product is Halaal.

Already other products such as the ECCO canned beef were already available in the market and Dr Tombale said they were adding to its diversification.

He said while there were fears they would affect small butcheries through competition, he said at the same time Batswana were entitled to the best product and butcheries also have access to the BMC.

Further, the beef from BMC is free from foot and mouth disease and measles and is ISO 9001 certified. Ends