Meat importers and processors have welcomed the government’s decision to partially lift the ban on poultry imports from Brazil, saying it will help stabilise local food production and avoid shortages of affordable protein products.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed that as of Thursday, June 19, imports of poultry and poultry products from Brazil will resume, excluding the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where a bird flu outbreak was reported in May.

The South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA) said the move would help avert major disruptions in the manufacture of staple products such as polony, viennas, and braai wors, which depend on Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) sourced almost entirely from Brazil.

“We are grateful for the urgency displayed by the Department of Agriculture and especially Minister John Steenhuisen, Deputy Director-General Dipeneneng Serage, and his team in averting the full-scale social and humanitarian crisis which the ban imposed on 16 May threatened to unleash,” said SAMPA chairperson Gordon Nicoll.

“While it will take some time for imports of MDM to reach our shores, the situation could have been a lot worse. We hope that this crisis will provide the blueprint for South African authorities should the remaining two poultry-producing regions of Brazil report HPAI outbreaks, so we can avoid any other breaks in supply in the future.”

South Africa does not produce MDM in any meaningful quantity. For the past 12 years, Brazil has supplied about 95% of MDM used in South African meat processing, making it an essential component in affordable processed products like russians, frozen burgers, bangers, meat pies, and corned meat.

The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) also welcomed the department’s decision, calling it a necessary, science-based step to protect industry and consumers.

“We commend the government for acting swiftly and pragmatically in response to Brazil’s evolving avian influenza situation,” said AMIE CEO Imameleng Mothebe.

“This regionalised approach, aligned with international best practices, is a positive step toward stabilising the poultry market and safeguarding food security for South African consumers.”

According to the department, the decision to partially lift the ban followed a second official report from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock confirming that the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak had been successfully contained to a single province.

“The veterinary services of the department engaged with their Brazilian counterparts to determine the extent of the outbreak, steps taken to contain the outbreak, and whether there are any other outbreaks on other farms or in any other state,” said Minister Steenhuisen.

“Information received from the Brazilian authorities demonstrated that poultry products produced outside of the 10km radius from the outbreak are not affected and pose no health risk.”

Steenhuisen added: “We are glad that, a month after the outbreak was reported in Brazil, we have been able to assess and confirm that risks associated with the importation of poultry and poultry products from Brazil are insignificant. We are closely monitoring the situation.”

While the suspension remains in place for poultry sourced from Rio Grande do Sul, the department confirmed that all other Brazilian states may resume exports to South Africa from Thursday.

The government cautioned that the decision may be reversed if the virus spreads to other regions.

AMIE said it would continue pushing for the formal conclusion of a new health certificate agreement between the two countries, which would allow future import bans to apply only to affected areas rather than the entire country.

“AMIE is urging government to finalise the health certificate agreement with Brazil that provides for a regionalised approach to future disease outbreaks,” said Mothebe.

“This agreement is crucial to ensure that future trade disruptions are limited only to affected regions, rather than resulting in blanket national bans.”

The association said the May suspension had already triggered noticeable price increases for poultry products in recent weeks, disproportionately affecting lower-income households that rely on affordable chicken cuts and processed meats.

“South Africans have already seen poultry prices surge in recent weeks,” said Mothebe.

“We hope this decision will help ease pressure on the food basket, especially as MDM and affordable chicken cuts are vital to lower-income households and the processed meat sector.”

AMIE also urged the department to consider reopening other poultry import markets, including France, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, which remain closed despite declaring successful containment of previous HPAI outbreaks to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

“A diversified supply base is essential to building resilience in South Africa’s food system,” said Mothebe.

“The reopening of safe and previously approved markets must be prioritised to avoid future disruptions and ensure ongoing supply and competition, which keeps prices in check.”

The department said it will continue to monitor the situation in Brazil and assess any new health risks that may arise.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za 

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