June 23, 2025

South African partially ends import ban on poultry from Brazil

South Africa has announced a partial lifting of the import ban on poultry and poultry product imports from Brazil.

The ban came into effect after one province in Brazil declared an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

A number of organisations expressed concern around a crisis resulting around the availability of affordable protein for South Africa's most vulnerable citizens.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said in a statement that the Department took the decision to ease the ban after receiving a second report from Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock detailing how the country has contained the outbreak to only one state.

While lauding the South African government for its swift action,  Imameleng Mothebe, chief executive officer of the Association for Meat Importers and Exporters South Africa (AMIE SA), pointed out that it will take some time for the situation at home to return to normal.

"Our importers can now start placing orders for the product" Mothebe said. "However, we have a challenge at this point that the product will not flow in immediately, because there are still some processes that government is working on with the Brazilian government around finalising the current health certificate."

- APA News