By Carien Kruger
Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of broiler meat, has reported its first outbreak of the highly contagious bird flu, which will have a major impact on South Africa.
South Africa imports most of its broiler meat from Brazil, especially mechanically deboned meat used in products such as polonies and sausages.
According to a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), an outbreak of the H5N1 virus strain was confirmed in that country on Friday, 15 May.
Izaak Breitenbach, CEO of the South African Poultry Association’s (SAPV) Broiler Organisation, confirmed on inquiry that South Africa and Brazil do not have a compartmentalisation agreement. This means when the South African Department of Agriculture imposes a ban on imports of chicken meat from Brazil due to the avian flu outbreak, no products would be exported to South Africa.
“After the outbreak of bird flu in wild birds in May 2023, Brazil dragged its feet and did not apply for compartmentalisation (with us). All imports of frozen chicken will therefore be stopped.”
Breitenbach says following the confirmation of the outbreak, many countries have already stopped chicken imports from Brazil. The same will happen in South Africa, although the department has not yet officially informed him about this.
Regarding mechanically deboned chicken, Breitenbach said South Africa does not produce it in large volumes and only imports it from a few countries, apart from Brazil.
“With regard to chicken pieces on the bone, we expect no shortage, as the import volume is very low and the demand for chicken is lower in winter.”
He expects the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of South Africa (AMIE) to argue that their customers will only use mechanically deboned chicken, which is imported raw, in cooked products. “We will not agree to this, because then the bird flu virus can be imported and spread here. The right solution to this problem is a compartmentalisation system.”
Breitenbach expects the Department of Agriculture to impose a ban on chicken from Brazil within days. “We will still receive products from Brazil for about six weeks, because they were produced before the outbreak.”
AMIE advocates for compartment system
In a media statement on Monday morning, AMIE called on the South African government for a well-considered and cooperative approach. According to the organisation, Brazil supplies more than 84% of the chicken that South Africa imports.
“Rather than impose an overall ban on all poultry products from Brazil, AMIE suggests that the government follows a regional strategy that prohibits only imports from a specifically affected region or regions in a country, as recommended by the WOAH,” the statement said.
“Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines have already announced this approach in response to the outbreak in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul.”
Imameleng Mothebe, CEO of AMIE, says a total ban on Brazilian poultry imports to South Africa will have devastating consequences for the South African poultry processors and consumers, especially for the most vulnerable people.
“Imported poultry not only fills the gap in the country’s poultry consumption but also provides the necessary competition to ensure prices are kept in check. Chicken is the most affordable source of protein for many South Africans, and a disruption in the supply of poultry products, including pieces on the bone and mechanically deboned meat, will significantly push up prices and affect food security,” she says.
According to AMIE, Brazil supplies 92% of all mechanically deboned chicken imported into South Africa. In the past 12 months, an average of 18 000 tons per month have been imported, which is essential for the production of processed meat products, such as polonies and sausages.
Brazil also represents 73% of all imported poultry meat products. According to AMIE, no other feasible producer of mechanically deboned meat can replace the volume imported from Brazil.
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