The Department of Agriculture has announced a partial lifting of the ban on poultry imports from Brazil, in a move expected to ease mounting pressure on South Africa’s food security.
The ban imposed in mid-May following an avian flu outbreak in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul region, had threatened to disrupt the supply of low-cost processed meats and trigger further increases in meat prices.
Import Ban Hits Mechanically Deboned Meat Supply
Mechanically deboned meat (MDM), which South Africa relies on Brazil to supply, was one of the hardest-hit products.
Affordable processed meats such as polony, viennas, russians and braaiwors rely on MDM as a key ingredient.
South Africa typically imports around 19 000 tonnes of MDM from Brazil each month. Following the ban, local producers warned of serious consequences.
According to BusinessTech, industry leaders, including Eskort and the South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA), said the suspension threatened to remove budget meat options from the market, particularly affecting low-income households.
Sector Struggles Under Multiple Pressures
Authorities recently detected foot-and-mouth disease at the country’s largest beef feedlot, while poultry producer DayBreak Foods collapsed.
Together, these developments have caused disruption to meat supply chains, with Stats SA’s latest inflation data showing upward pressure on meat prices.
Industry groups warned that even a short disruption in MDM imports would force processors to halt operations and risk significant job losses.
Eskort stated that a supply gap of four to six weeks would leave many facilities idle for more than two months, adding to economic and social instability.
Government Lifts Ban Outside Affected Region
In response to industry pleas, the Department of Agriculture has agreed to partially lift the ban, effective from 19 June.
Imports from Brazilian states not affected by the avian flu outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul will now be allowed.
Meat processors welcomed the decision. SAMPA said the move would avert major shortages of affordable protein and help secure jobs in the sector.
“This decision could not have come at a more critical time. South Africa has been losing over 100 million meals per week due to the ban,” industry representatives said.
Eskort noted that processors will take time to recover and that the disruption will have knock-on effects along the supply chain.
“This is not only a supply chain crisis, but also a pending socio-economic and political disaster,” the group said.
Do you think lifting the poultry ban will help stabilise food prices in South Africa?
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