UAE Red Meat Export Registration Deadline Extended Under VPN-59
Brought to you by SAnews: The Minister of Agriculture has announced an extension to the mandatory registration deadline for livestock farms and feedlots supplying red meat for export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under Veterinary Procedural Notice 59 (VPN-59) to 31 December 2026.
In terms of regulatory export standards administered by the Department of Agriculture’s Directorate: Animal Health, livestock producers must hold valid registration to supply animals for slaughter destined for the UAE market. The extension provides transitional relief to prevent export disruptions while provincial state veterinarians and producers complete necessary certification procedures.
Interim Compliance Conditions
The deadline extension does not grant a blanket exemption. During the transitional period ending 31 December 2026, livestock exports to the UAE may only proceed if the supplying facility complies with the following interim requirements:
- The farm or feedlot has undergone a formal inspection by the responsible provincial state veterinarian;
- Verification of compliance with all applicable veterinary and sanitary standards has been certified; and
- A complete and compliant registration application has been submitted to the Directorate: Animal Health for formal processing.
From 1 January 2027, unregistered farms and feedlots will be strictly prohibited from supplying livestock for export slaughter to the UAE, and state veterinary authorities will not endorse export consignments originating from non-compliant facilities.
What this means for you, your business, or your clients
- For yourself: Ensure your compliance advisory files and regulatory checklists reflect the new 31 December 2026 deadline for VPN-59 submissions.
- For your business: Agricultural and trade consultancies must ensure standard operating procedures account for interim veterinary inspection logs before signing off on export documentation.
- For your clients: Livestock producers and feedlots exporting red meat to the UAE must book provincial state veterinary inspections immediately and lodge their VPN-59 application files with the Directorate: Animal Health to avoid border rejection.
Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/uae-red-meat-export-registration-deadline-extended