With six months of the year still to go, the 23 295,5 tons of beef exported from January to June were slightly less than the 29 753,31 tons exported in the whole of 2022 and 61% of the total exports for 2023.

From January 2017 to July 2020, there were only seven months when more than 4 000 tons of red meat were exported, but since last November this level has been exceeded five times.

Red meat exports have not dropped below 3 000 tons a month since May last year, whereas in 2022 they were below 3 000 tons every month.

Dr Gerhard Neethling, manager of the Red Meat Abattoir Association and head of Red Meat Industry Services’ veterinary services, says the opening of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian markets in the second half of 2023 has created significant opportunities.

“Although the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Eastern Cape, for example, imposed restrictions in that province, the suspension of quarantine requirements in Gauteng, and likely soon in the Free State, has made further markets in these areas possible,” he said.

“The establishment of the ministerial task force for foot-and-mouth disease also contributes to effective communication with importing countries to remove any doubts about the guarantees that are available.”

These exports, however, are accompanied by strict biosecurity measures throughout the value chain.

“The industry worked closely with the department (of agriculture, land reform and rural development) in June 2024 for the evaluation of 15 red meat facilities by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for successful approval to export to this country,” said Neethling.

“The requirements of the Saudi export certificate, however, have imposed additional requirements on farms and feedlots supplying these approved abattoirs and meat facilities. This includes, among other things, export registration of these feedlots and farms, identification, and further quarantine requirements before animals are allowed into these registered units.”

These measures are applied under the supervision of registered veterinarians. “This compliance did not occur without significant adjustments by stakeholders in the industry. However, the requirements for existing markets demand continuous and dynamic action and communication amid further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.”

Neethling says after the initial approval of the 15 facilities, all other facilities nationwide were invited to apply for export approval to Saudi Arabia through their provincial animal health authorities.

Compartmentalisation

The measures allowing exports to Saudi Arabia are in addition to those that enabled South Africa to resume red meat exports early in 2019 – within three months of the initial foot-and-mouth disease outbreak – despite the loss of the country’s foot-and-mouth disease-free status. Some of these measures include:

• Control over livestock for at least 30 days before the product is exported.
• The slaughter of these animals in abattoirs approved for export with the necessary biosecurity guarantees.
• Maturation of the carcasses above 2°C for 24 hours (this process and the drop in pH to below 6 destroy the virus and enhance the product’s shelf life).
• Deboning of carcasses in some cases.

“The preservation and expansion of the red meat value chain can only be successful with extensive partnerships between the public and private sectors to exploit these markets, while simultaneously providing the necessary guarantees for animal health and meat safety to our extended customer network,” said Neethling.