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South Africa’s poultry industry is more than a food source — it is a strategic national asset, writes David Wolpert, former CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE).

The South African poultry industry has asked the government to withdraw the “concession” granted to the United States authorities to determine for themselves which US states can export poultry to South Africa following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or bird flu).

The decision by the Department of Agriculture to cede bird flu decisions to the United States did not accord with the department’s commitment to protect South Africa from the virus, FairPlay commented.

Brazil has declared itself free of bird flu, saying that its first – and so far only – outbreak in commercial poultry is over.

Since the ban on Brazilian poultry imports was announced last month, South Africa’s chicken importers have resorted to crisis warnings and scary messaging to try to force the government to get supplies flowing again.

The South African sugar industry is warning once again that dumped sugar imports are placing thousands of local jobs at risk and undermining rural livelihoods.

Animal welfare group NSPCA is pursuing criminal charges against Daybreak’s directors after mass chicken deaths and alleged cruelty at the embattled poultry producer.

Beef prices are driving up food inflation in South Africa, as outbreaks of foot and mouth disease take their toll on meat supply and consumer costs.

Boosting South Africa’s poultry exports are high on the government’s list of agricultural priorities this year.

Two respected analysts have weighed in on different aspects of improving South Africa’s agricultural exports.

Exports and imports would flow quicker if South Africa’s ports were privatised, according to a study by a supply chain company.

South Africa needed a vaccination programme to prevent the devastation of another huge bird flu outbreak, according to agriculture minister John Steenhuisen.

While South Africa hopes to develop a booming chicken export business, poultry imports are declining.

South Africa and Brazil have concluded a compartmentalisation agreement which will allow poultry imports from provinces in Brazil not affected by bird flu.

Chicken is “a protein powerhouse” with other health benefits as well, the New York Times has reported.

South Africa urgently needs vaccination programmes to protect its poultry and cattle, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen told the annual AVI Africa poultry conference last week.

Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen described poultry as one of South Africa’s most important agricultural sectors. He also set out the benefits he expected from the renewed phase of the poultry master plan, first implemented in 2019.

South Africa is about to join the countries vaccinating chickens against bird flu. The programme will start on a few farms, once agreement is reached on revised vaccination requirements, and then expand across the country.

The importance of a bird flu vaccination programme, and the risks of a delay, were highlighted by FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

Brazil has at last applied to South Africa for a compartmentalisation agreement that would allow poultry imports from areas not affected by bird flu.

There’s good news and bad news for those hoping to see more essential foods added to the list of items that are exempt from South Africa’s value added tax (VAT).

After months of wrangling between the South African government and poultry producers, there has at last been a breakthrough and a bird flu vaccination programme should soon get underway.

South African food producers, including the poultry industry, have argued for additional essential food items to be exempt from 15% value added tax (VAT).

Making essential foods cheaper for poor consumers was more than worth the loss of revenue from value added tax, poultry […]

Pressure is mounting on the South African government to allow poultry imports from parts of Brazil that are not affected […]

Chicken importers appear to be making fat profits from sales of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) ahead of an expected shortage because of the bird flu ban on poultry imports from Brazil.

Funding cuts by the Trump administration in the United States have resulted in the closure of a US-funded chicken project in Lesotho.

All three of South Africa’s listed poultry companies have warned of the high risks of renewed bird flu outbreaks and complained of the lack of progress in government approvals for a vaccination programme.

As expected, the South African government has banned all poultry imports from Brazil because of the outbreak of bird flu in that country.

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), owner of Daybreak Foods, has supported the decision by Daybreak’s board to place the poultry producer into business rescue.

South Africa’s May budget delivered a double blow to the poor on food prices, FairPlay said in a statement.

Since January this year, 155 children under the age of five have died in South African public health facilities, with moderate to severe malnutrition as an underlying condition.

An innovative project in the Western Cape will test a programme to prevent stunting, which affects more than a quarter of South Africa’s children under the age of five.