November 4, 2013

EU will not lift South African meat export ban

Until the Animal Health Act of 2002 is proclaimed, the ban on South African meat exports to the EU will not be lifted.

In a report based on an audit conducted to evaluate the animal health controls in respect to African horse sickness in South Africa, the EU found that the authorities who regulate and report animal diseases were not adequately empowered.

Currently, the legislation implemented to regulate animal disease in South Africa - the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984 - predates the Constitution, and does not delegate powers to the Provinces, which means that both, the national and provincial departments of agriculture (DA) must share the responsibilities of ensuring animal health.

In order to rectify this problem, the Animal Health Act of 2002 was passed by Parliament. This Act, unlike the 1984 legislation, makes provision for delegation of certain powers to Provisional executives, and for the past eleven years the Act remained unproclaim.

The DA will write to both President Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries requesting reasons for the eleven year delay in proclaiming the Animal Health Act.

The Minister, who recently blamed Parliament for the unconstitutional legislation in her Department, must take responsibility and ensure that animal health is properly regulated.

South Africa cannot afford to lose an additional ZAR4 billion (US$393 million) annually in red meat exports alone as a result of the ban. This will have a negative impact on jobs and economic growth.

The DA will seek legal advice on what can be done to speed up the process in enacting the 2002 legislation and urge the Minister to do so without further delay.