Question NW501 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

(a) Which products were banned?

(b) Destination market

(c) Why was each product banned?

(d) What steps, if any were taken to reverse the decisions to ban these products?

Pig and pig products in 2016.

Zambia

Due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in South Africa.

Letter addressed to the Veterinary Authorities in Zambia was sent on 16 September 2016 providing assurance to trade partner that South Africa bio secure pig compartments, officially supervised and registered in terms of Veterinary Procedural Notice (VPN) 39 remain free from ASF. The ban is currently still in place.

Game meat from cloven hoofed animals from 2011 and continuing from 2014.

EU

Foot and Mouth Disease

A meeting was held in Brussels with the EU in October 2015. The purpose of the meeting was to explain the progress on South Africa’s application to resume trade of game meat to the EU. The FMD-EU audit took place from 4 to 15 September 2017. The ban is currently still in place.

Farmed game meat (including ostrich and crocodile meat) to the European Union (EU). Wild game meat is excluded in 2018.

EU

Issues regarding the National Residue Control Programme

The South African Veterinary Services is engaging with the EU to provide substantiated guarantees in terms of the National Residual Control Programme with the assistance of the industry to uplift the suspension. The ban is currently still in place.

Dairy Products in 2018

Zimbabwe

Due to the Listeria outbreak

Initial communication received from an exporter regarding the ban. The Directorate Animal Health contacted the Zimbabwean state veterinarian on 27 February 2018, to confirm this information. We are awaiting a response. A letter will be sent to the Zimbabwean Veterinary Authorities requesting clarification on the matter. The ban is currently still in place.

Red meat in 2017

Mozambique

FMD outbreak outside FMD free zone in Limpopo.

DAFF wrote to Veterinary Authority of Mozambique in September 2017 to explain that the FMD outbreak took place outside the OIE recognised FMD free zone and that it should not affect trade. Provided a map and further information as it was requested. No official response received regarding lifting of the ban but exports are taking place.

Bovine hides in 2017

People’s Republic of China

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

A new health certificate which includes the OIE requirements for LSD was proposed in November 2017; however the Chinese rejected that on the grounds that they want the LSD “outbreak” to be controlled before the ban can be lifted. Communication was sent in February 2018 requesting reconsideration of the proposed health certificate and to accept the hides which originate from the 3 facilities which are currently exporting beef to China. The ban is currently still in place.

Live birds excluding poultry

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in South Africa.

Wrote to the Veterinary Authority of the UAE in July 2017 to request that a consignment of birds that had been quarantined for the purposes of export be allowed entry and proposed additional risk mitigation measures. Awaiting a response.

Domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen

Philippines

Due to HPAI outbreak (WTO notification

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Monthly AI reports are being sent out to trading partners.

Caged live birds and poultry products

Mauritius

Due to HPAI outbreak (WTO notification

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Live birds, hatching eggs and day-old chicks

Saudi Arabia

Due to HPAI outbreak (WTO notification

The Veterinary Authority of Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in importing poultry meat from South Africa. A response to the completed questionnaire sent in October 2017 is still outstanding.

Domestic and wild birds, poultry and poultry products, day-old chicks, table and fertile eggs

Zimbabwe

Due to HPAI outbreak. However, fertile and table eggs, poultry and poultry products and day-old chicks may be imported from AI free compartments after 22 June 2017. (WTO notification).

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Domestic and wild birds and their untreated products, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, meat and table eggs

United Arab Emirates

Due to HPAI outbreak (WTO notification

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Poultry, Poultry products, birds, ostrich and their products

Import / in-transit of Birds, live poultry, raw poultry products and poultry feed

Namibia

Due to HPAI outbreak. Exclusions include Poultry products subjected to a process of inactivation of avian influenza virus. Cooked poultry products.

Excluding cooked poultry products

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Poultry genetic material, poultry products and birds.

Israel

Due to HPAI outbreak

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Monthly AI reports are being sent out to trading partners.

Fresh ratite meat, poultry meat preparations, poultry meat products not subject to treatment, Unprocessed animal by-products

European Commission (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland)

Due to HPAI outbreak. Exclusions include Heat treated ratite meat and fresh ratite meat originating from a registered Closed Ratite Holding

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters and updated AI Reports have been provided.

Poultry (carcass, parts and offal), Poultry products including eggs

Hong Kong Food and Environment hygiene Department. Centre for food Safety

Due to HPAI outbreak. Excluding Provinces outside Mpumalanga (and historical ban on Eastern Cape and Western Cape still in place),

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Govan Mbeki Metropolitan Municipality and

Mogale City Local municipality.

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Live poultry and fresh poultry products

Botswana

Due to HPAI outbreak.

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.

Live domestic and wild birds, eggs, fresh and frozen poultry meat.

Mozambique

Due to HPAI outbreak.

Currently, the outbreak has not been closed yet. Updated Trade Partner letters, updated AI Reports together with the monthly testing list from AI free compartments have been provided.