Lilongwe lifted the ban on slaughtering and sale of livestock like cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. Through a press statement by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, it was announced that it is authorized to consume, slaughter and sell meat of the livestock above.

The ban followed after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in September this year. As the disease contagious, consuming meat that is infected by the disease will result into contracting the disease, hence the ban.

The meat ban counts as the second ban this year, following another in June, when it was reported that more than 1000 cases of FMD were discovered. In September 2017, there was a ban of the same nature; it is advised that farmers vaccinate their livestock.