August 11, 2004

EU Bans South African Poultry Products

The local ostrich industry was dealt a serious financial blow when the European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday evening that it was banning the import of ostrich meat, eggs and other products from South Africa until January 1 2005.

The EU decision came as an unwanted surprise for the local ostrich industry since the SA government on Friday already announced a voluntary 30-day ban on exporting ostrich meat to the EU.

Preliminary estimates showed that the 30-day ban would lead to R100 million loss in the industry. The government and the local industry believed that the ban was necessary to protect the industry's international export status and long-term integrity.

Anton Kruger of the SA Ostrich Chamber of Business said on Tuesday night that the industry viewed the EU decision in a very serious light. But it also trusted that government and the industry would do everything in its power to have the ban lifted.

Kruger said one option was to keep Europe informed at all times and to ask for the ban to be lifted once the 30-day period has expired.

He added that South Africa's status as the leading supplier of ostrich products in the world was not in jeopardy and that the industry would not lose its market share in the EU.

Nearly 90% of all locally produced meat is destined for the EU. South Africa also supplies 65% of all ostriches in the world and 90% of all ostrich products.

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza visited Somerset East earlier on Tuesday with the good news that the ban on the export of all poultry would be relaxed to minimise the losses in the ostrich and poultry industry.

Didiza dismissed rumours that avian flu also broke out elsewhere in the country, but said ostrich farms in all other provinces would be strictly monitored over the next few weeks.