This follows confirmation that a recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been contained to a single region. Beginning June 19, poultry and poultry products from Brazil will once again be allowed into the country, except those originating from Rio Grande do Sul, the affected state.

The Department's Deputy Director-General for Biosecurity, Agricultural Production Regulatory Services and Disaster Management, Dipepeneneng Serage, told Channel Africa that the decision follows a thorough assessment of the risk posed by the outbreak.

“The Brazilian authorities have provided us with consistent data confirming that the virus has not spread beyond Rio Grande do Sul. Based on that, we are satisfied to resume trade, while maintaining strict monitoring protocols,” she said.

Poultry and poultry products refer to a wide range of imports, including meat, mechanically deboned meat (MDM) used in cold meats like polony, eggs and day-old chicks. MDM in particular is sourced exclusively from Brazil, making it a critical component in SA’s food supply chain.

Serage stressed that although the import suspension was in place for nearly a month, its impact was limited. “It takes about a month for Brazilian shipments to arrive in SA. Many of the products were manufactured and shipped before the suspension took effect on April 30, so we continued receiving those. There was concern, but we didn’t reach a point of national shortage,” she explained.

The department reiterated that the decision to lift the ban was based solely on biosecurity considerations and not influenced by industry pressure or food availability. “Our priority is public and animal health. If we detect any spread of the virus beyond the affected state, we will not hesitate to reinstate the ban,” Serage said.

While other countries have also resumed imports from Brazil, Serage emphasised that SA's decision was made independently. “Namibia lifted their ban within a week. We didn’t follow suit. We waited for data, analysed it, and only then made our decision.”

Going forward, SA will continue to receive regular reports from Brazil on virus containment, disinfection procedures, and surveillance results in bordering regions. The short life cycle of the virus in infected birds, combined with culling and decontamination measures, makes tracking relatively straightforward, according to Serage.

She concluded that although food security remains a growing concern, the department remains confident that current poultry supply levels are stable, with no immediate threat to domestic food availability.

--ChannelAfrica--