GOV.BW

Livestock Buyers License is provided for in the Control of Livestock Industry Act CAP.36.01.  The license authorises its holder to purchase livestock for the purpose of trade in the country. Trade here means acquisition of livestock for slaughter, meat processing plants, retailers, chain shops, for commission (BMC) and other markets and this even include a farmer buying 50 or more breeding stock for the purposes of a ranch.  License issued for a particular district can be endorsed ONCE in another district of interest to the buyer to enable trading in that particular district.

A Livestock buyer’s Agent license is obtained by a buyer who is going to buy on behalf of someone who already has a livestock buyer’s license.

Livestock Producers Agent license allows its holder to collect mobs of cattle from producers and send them to Botswana Meat Commission abattoirs on their behalf. A holder of this license is permitted to charge a commission of 2.5% on revenue realized from the sales as stipulated in the act for the services offered and not more than that. Livestock Producers Agent License is provided for in the Livestock Meat Industries Act (CAP 36.03).  

This service allows clients to import animals, animal products, animal feeds, Animal/feeds Samples for research purposes etc into the country in order to achieve country wide traceability of the commodities. Animal movement can be for the following purposes; for slaughter, for rearing and translocation.  For all permits the client must return the previous permit before renewal or issuance of subsequent permits and the product or animal clear details must be provided as well as the quantity.

Origin country should not have major Notifiable diseases for such livestock e.g. foot and mouth for cattle, Avian Influenza or Newcastle for chicken and African swine fever for pigs.

This service allows farmers to move animals across the country to their Destination Country. Origin should NOT have major Notifiable diseases for such livestock e.g. foot and mouth for cattle, Newcastle for chicken and African swine fever for pigs.

Central Transport Organisation (CTO) conducts accreditation of private garages bi-annually; that is in April/May and October/November. This is a process of vetting services offered by private garages and dealerships to Government Ministries/Departments.  The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that quality service is provided in accordance with expected national and international standards. Garages and Workshops that conform to stipulated requirements are issued with certificates valid for one (1) year.

Accreditation Certificates are issued in three categories as follows:

Categories

• Category A-Small cars
• Category B-Trucks and Buses
• Category C-Plant Machinery

Accreditation Certificates are also issued in three(3) classes;

Classes

• Class 1-Repairs below BWP 30,000
• Class 2-Repairs between BWP 30,000 and BWP 60,000
• Class 3-Repairs above BWP 60,000

When Accreditation Certificate expires, Garage owners have an obligation of requesting for renewal of which CTO will then initiate the process to complete the renewal. The process of renewal involves a visit to these premises and the inspection is carried out in the same manner as the initial one.

Inspections are done through visiting businesses to check for compliance with set trading standards such as validity and display of trading licenses, selling of tainted goods, price display, pricing of goods and others. To avoid penalties, businesses must comply with trade laws and strive for good business practice.

Any consumer whose interests/rights are violated and having not obtained redress from the business may lodge a consumer complaint of unfair business practice.

A consumer is defined in the Consumer Protection Act 2018 as “any person or non-profit making organisation to whom or to which any commodity is offered, supplied or made available, where such person or organisation does not intend to apply the commodity for the purpose of resale, lease, rendering services or the manufacture of goods for gain."