Poultry products to be imported ahead of festive season
Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza has decided to allow the import of poultry products amid the outbreak of birdflu.
This is being done to ensure sufficient stock is available during the Christmas season.
Table eggs, fertilised eggs and poultry meat are some of the imports which have been given the green light.
The poultry industry is struggling to contain the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is plaguing not only South Africa, but other parts of the world.
On Wednesday, departmental spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo said the department had granted permits for over 2000 imports of poultry products since September.
"Since the 1st of September 2023, the department has granted: 115 permits for fertiliser eggs, 48 permits for egg powder, 2406 permits for poultry meat, 24 permits for table eggs."
Ngcobo said some consignments have arrived while others are still in transit.
"A permit might be for up to a shipping container or 10 000 tons. The following consignments have already arrived, while others are in transit: Poultry meat imported - 34 511 Matric Tons, Hatching eggs - 1.9 million, Day old chicks - 5 840, (930 000 hatching eggs to Eswantini traveled by road from OR Tambo International Airport)."
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