May 30, 2007

No restriction on pork exports to Uganda

The government of Uganda said it will not restrict or ban imports of pork from foreign sources despite calls from the hog farmers all over the country to ban pork exports to protect its local swine industry.

The Ugandan Agriculture Department claimed most imported pork is processed as the country also lacks meat of this kind. Halting the imports will not be beneficial and thus prices will be higher due to scarcity, stressed the ministry.

As the country's production of processed pork continues to go up, and producing units become more cost-effective, the quality and quantity of domestically produced processed pork and its prices will decrease the government points out.

This will also give chance for Ugandan pork to compete effectively and to replace pork imports eventually, the government said.

The agriculture department says that although no new legislation is required as to control pork imports, laws are already in place for other imported items aside from pork, such as pig breeding stock.

This, the department says, to protect Ugandan consumers and hog production from possible health risk.