South Africa Could Face Chicken Shortage Amid Import Dispute

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza around the world have caused a rift among key players in South Africa’s poultry industry. Some believe the government should enforce stricter bans on imports from affected countries, while others argue that doing so could leave the country without enough chicken to meet demand.

Brazil and the United States—South Africa’s main poultry suppliers—have reported outbreaks of bird flu. However, some states in these countries remain free of the disease, making their poultry safe for consumption.

The South African government has taken certain measures against poultry imports from both countries. However, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has criticized these actions.

US Poultry Imports
The Department of Agriculture has granted U.S. authorities the power to determine which of their states are eligible to export chicken to South Africa—a measure SAPA has asked to be reversed.
“These decisions were made by the Department of Agriculture based on U.S. notifications to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). However, the department now allows the U.S. to self-impose and self-lift avian flu restrictions. This decision, quietly implemented three months ago without consulting the local poultry industry, is an alarming abdication of its duty to protect South Africa’s poultry sector,” said Izaak Breitenbach, CEO of SAPA’s broiler division.

Is US Chicken Safe?
Breitenbach added that all U.S. poultry-producing states have been affected by bird flu, and 27 of them are currently banned from exporting to South Africa.
By allowing the U.S. to determine its own disease status and export policies, Breitenbach says, the government has created a serious conflict of interest.
“The risk is real: a country facing widespread bird flu outbreaks can now prioritize its own interests and potentially expose South Africa to the same disease that cost this industry R$ 9.5 billion and wiped out 30% of its laying hen stock in 2023.”

A Reckless Move
“This is an unprecedented and reckless shift that jeopardizes South Africa’s disease-free status and threatens both food security and the future sustainability of the poultry sector.
“It sets a dangerous precedent: other major poultry exporters like the European Union and Brazil could soon demand the same treatment, leaving South Africa’s industry even more exposed to devastating outbreaks,” he warned.
Breitenbach stressed that the decision poses a real threat, as South Africa could experience an outbreak due to imports from affected countries.

Chicken Running Out
Meanwhile, the South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA) has warned that processed meat producers will soon run out of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) due to a disagreement between South Africa and Brazil over technical details related to lifting the import ban.

SAMPA president Gordon Nicoll said the deadlock could soon lead to chicken shortages on supermarket shelves.
“Optimism had grown among embattled meat processors last week when South Africa announced it would partially lift the ban and accept poultry and poultry products from provinces unaffected by bird flu.
“But the refusal by Brazilian authorities to accept South Africa’s proposed language in the sanitary import certificate has meant Brazilian poultry remains unavailable to importers and manufacturers over a week later.”

MDM Comes from Brazil
Nicoll noted that Brazil is the world’s largest producer of MDM, with 95% of the products imported by South Africa over the past 12 years coming from there.
MDM is used in the production of sausages, hot dogs, frozen burgers, meat pies, and canned meats.

With beef prices significantly higher and chicken more expensive, meat and protein have become far less affordable for South Africans. In a country where malnutrition is a serious concern, and much of the population struggles to survive, this is catastrophic.

Source: AviSite

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