By JACK MWEWA –
THE South African government says the country’s veterinary wing has made progress in resolving the ban on meat exports from America before December, 31, 2015.
This is in response to American President Barrack Obama’s 60 day altimutum to remove barriers on farm produce or face sanctions in a long-running row over chicken exports.
South Africa’s Minister, Department of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said in a statement that the country’s veterinary has been continuously engaged with their American counterparts on the drafting of the necessary trade and animal health protocols for poultry, beef and pork.
“Significant progress has been made in this regard and the work is almost complete, the delay has been to the fact that both sides have had to engage on the documentation and negotiate the submissions and proposals,” reads the statement in part.
He said South Africa considered that such matters of animal health needed to be dealt with accordingly in a scientific and objective manner by experts.
South Africa banned US poultry imports last December after an outbreak of bird flu, recent trade row threatens South African exports of oranges, nuts, wine and US$250 million of annual farm products.
South Africa lifted ban on boned beef from several countries which had Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) including the US in June, while both countries have engaged technical work to ensure safe trade of pork from diseases like Trichinella, Porcine Reproductive, Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Aujesky.