Fears that full ban on Brazilian poultry imports could harm South Africa's poultry sector
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has called on the South African government to avoid imposing a blanket ban on poultry
Image: Pixabay
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has called on the government to avoid imposing a blanket ban on poultry imports from Brazil, following the recent outbreak of avian influenza in the South American country.
IOL previously reported that calls are increasing for the government to temporarily suspend poultry imports from Brazil to protect South Africa's local poultry industry from the spread of the disease.
AMIE has recommended that the government adopt a more targeted approach, restricting imports only from the affected regions in Brazil instead of halting all poultry shipments from the entire country.
The association pointed out that "this approach has already been announced by Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Philippines in response to the outbreak."
'A full ban on Brazilian poultry imports to South Africa will have devastating consequences for the South African poultry meat processors and consumers, particularly the most vulnerable in our society.
"Imported poultry not only fills the country's poultry consumption gap, but also provides the necessary competition to ensure that prices are kept in check. Chicken is the most affordable protein source for many South Africans, and a disruption in the supply of poultry products, including bone-in chicken and mechanically deboned meat (MDM), will significantly drive up prices and impact food security.' AMIE CEO, Imameleng Mothebe, said.
The association emphasised that Brazil supplies 92% of all imported MDM to South Africa, with an average of 18,000 metric tonnes imported monthly over the last year.
"Additionally, Brazil accounts for 73% of all other poultry products imported into the country. South Africa does not produce commercial MDM locally, and there are no viable alternative markets to replace the volume currently imported from Brazil.
"Adopting a regionalisation approach, in line with global best practices, would allow South Africa to continue importing safe poultry products from unaffected"
Mothebe expressed concerns about what he described as the "slow pace of reopening other closed markets" by the government. He highlighted that the association was willing to work with the government to find a sustainable and balanced solution.
"Poultry import markets in France, several US states, and the Netherlands remain closed to South Africa long after their respective outbreaks have been contained. This delay in decision-making places further strain on the local supply and drives up consumer costs"
'We are committed to engaging with the Government to find a sustainable and balanced solution that serves the best interests of South Africa,' concluded Mothebe.
[email protected]
IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Only a fraction of the R500 million has been disbursed
JOHANNESBURG - Government's new spaza shop support fund is disbursing money. The fund was set up to help revitalize South African-owned spaza shops and food outlets in townships and rural areas. It came after a national disaster was declared late last year after more than 20 children died from food-borne illnesses after eating food from spaza shops.
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Discussing BBBEE redress policies effect on the economy
JOHANNESBURG - The critique of South Africa's so-called "racial policies" by the United States has again put BBEE in the spotlight. READ: Ramaphosa defends BEE policies in Parliament Broad-based economic empowerment measures were put in place to counter apartheid policies that disadvantaged different groups of South Africans through poorer education, a lack of promotion and confiscation of their assets and rights. Many have argued it's not working. An academic says that the complex problems affecting the country's economic growth cannot be reduced to policies aimed at redress. Dr Khwezi Mabasa, the Economic and Social Policy Lead at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung South Africa, discussed this with eNCA.
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Gauteng foot-and-mouth outbreak at world's largest feedlot is a red meat flag
Karan Beef said this week that a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) had been confirmed at its gigantic feedlot facility at Heidelberg in southeastern Gauteng, the latest outbreak of the highly contagious viral infection to hit South Africa's cattle and beef industry. At 2,330 hectares, Karan Beef's Heidelberg feedlot is the largest in the world. They say everything is bigger in Texas, but this facility outstrips the massive feedlots that are a defining feature of the grassy landscape along Interstate Highway 40 of the Texas Panhandle, the heart of the global beef industry. Outbreaks elsewhere have already curbed South African beef exports, but concerns raised on social media about local price increases are misplaced, as domestic supplies are expected to increase as a result. It's still very concerning because Karan Beef is widely regarded as South Africa's top beef brand, supplying most of the country's recognised retailers and premier butchers and restaurants. That reputation has been built in part on its strict biosecurity measures. In 2007, Karan Beef was South Africa's first beef producer to achieve the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food standards accreditation. This is the gold standard on this front, described by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization as '… a globally recognised, systematic and science-based approach to food safety that addresses biological, chemical and physical hazards throughout the food chain.' The bottom line is that if an outbreak can occur at this operation, no South African cattle farm or feedlot is safe from the disease. This follows in the wake of recent outbreaks of FMD that spread to Mpumalanga and Gauteng. 'As a result of the spread of the KZN outbreaks to Mpumalanga and Gauteng, the People's Republic of China has suspended imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products,' the Department of Agriculture said last month. 'The department urges all livestock farmers in the whole country to limit animal movement as far as possible … No cloven-hoofed animals should be accepted from areas under restriction for FMD in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga,' it said. This is a setback for South Africa's blossoming agricultural sector, which grew almost 16% in the first quarter of this year, making it the standout performer on a dismal stage that saw the total economy expand by only 0.1% – and which saw exports rise 10% in the same period. 'The one area that remains a concern (for agriculture) is the livestock industry, primarily due to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. We have already seen various trading partners temporarily banning South Africa's beef exports due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak,' said Wandile Silhobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber. What this means for you: While it is a blow for exports, what are the stakes for steak-lovers in South Africa? If you are a beef lover, you don't have to panic buy to fill your freezer – this ain't toilet paper during the pandemic. Beef prices may actually decline as the domestic market becomes flooded with product destined for export. But animal disease is worrying on a range of fronts and is a setback to South Africa's agricultural sector. According to Sihlobo, the curbing of exports will increase the domestic supply, and as a result, South African beef prices should 'decrease a bit.' Cattle destined for exports in feedlots still need to be slaughtered at the usual pace because of the feed costs, and FMD is not generally fatal for adult animals, so there will be no mass die-off even if the disease spreads like a Highveld wildfire in winter. Several factors are fanning the flames of animal disease worldwide, including climate change. But it is South African cattle farmers and producers who will bear the brunt of export curbs and potentially falling domestic prices. DM
