SA eases Brazil poultry ban to address meat shortage concerns
South Africa has partially lifted its poultry ban on Brazil to reduce shortages and safeguard food security after avian flu disrupted chicken imports.
The Department of Agriculture has partially lifted the ban on poultry imports from Brazil, aiming to ease growing pressure on South Africa’s food security.
Officials imposed the ban in mid-May after an avian flu outbreak in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul region, a move that risked disrupting the supply of affordable processed meats and driving meat prices even higher.
Import Ban Hits Mechanically Deboned Meat Supply
Mechanically deboned meat (MDM), which South Africa heavily sources from Brazil, took one of the biggest hits from the import ban.
Affordable processed meats like polony, viennas, russians, and braaiwors depend on MDM as a core ingredient.
South Africa usually brings in about 19,000 tonnes of MDM from Brazil each month. After the ban, local producers warned of severe repercussions.
According to BusinessTech, industry leaders—including Eskort and the South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA)—said the suspension could wipe budget meat options off store shelves, hitting low-income households the hardest.
Sector Struggles Under Multiple Pressures
Authorities recently detected foot-and-mouth disease at the country’s largest beef feedlot, while poultry producer DayBreak Foods collapsed.
These developments have disrupted meat supply chains, and Stats SA’s latest inflation data shows that meat prices are under growing pressure.
Industry groups warned that even a brief interruption in MDM imports could force processors to shut down operations, putting many jobs at risk.
Eskort noted that a four to six-week supply gap would leave many processing facilities idle for over two months, further fueling economic and social instability.
Government Lifts Ban Outside Affected Region
Responding to industry appeals, the Department of Agriculture has decided to partially lift the ban starting 19 June.
The department will now permit imports from Brazilian states unaffected by the avian flu outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul.
Meat processors welcomed the decision, with SAMPA stating that it would help prevent major shortages of affordable protein and protect jobs in the industry.
“This decision could not have come at a more critical time. South Africa has been losing over 100 million meals per week due to the ban,” industry representatives said.
Eskort noted that processors will take time to recover and that the disruption will have knock-on effects along the supply chain.
“This is not only a supply chain crisis, but also a pending socio-economic and political disaster,” the group said.