Brazil bird flu outbreak sparks fear of ban
JOHANNESBURG - Meat importers have their feathers ruffled over a possible ban on Brazilian poultry.
It comes after an outbreak of Avian flu in the South American country.
They say government should only target affected areas and not cull the whole country.
Brazil accounts for 84 percent of all poultry imports.
CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters, Imameleng Mothebe, says this outbreak will have a repelling effect on the South African economy.
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.
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
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Full list: 10 signings linked with Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi flanked by the club's Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr (left) and the Football Manager Bobby Motaung (right). Image: Goal Kaizer Chiefs are linked with an exciting list of players. The most popular names include Monnapule Saleng, Oswin Appollis and Fiston Mayele. Here's a list of nine players who have been mentioned in the same sentence as Kaizer Chiefs over the past seven days. Kaizer Chiefs bosses to sign two Sundowns superstars? According to various local reports, Amakhosi are linked with a host of attacking talent. Of the nine players mentioned this past week, only one of them is a defender: Fawaaz Basadien. The rest of the pack includes wingers, midfielders and of course strikers. Full List: Monnapule Saleng, 27, winger, Orlando Pirates. Feisal Salum, 28, midfielder, Azam FC Asanele Velebayi, 22, winger, Cape Town Spurs Sipho Mbule, 27, midfielder, Mamelodi Sundowns Rivaldo Coetzee Jean Charles Ahoua Etiosa Igodaro Fiston Mayele Fawaaz Basadien Oswin Appollis, 23, winger, Polokwane City. Zimbabwean attacker to Orlando Pirates? Spotted: Kaizer Chiefs coach Nabi in Africa Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
