Avian flu threat to poultry exports

SA’s poultry industry is on edge after another outbreak of avian flu was reported on a farm in the North West, a discovery likely to prompt more neighbouring countries to ban the importation of local broilers and eggs. Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique suspended poultry imports from SA.

SA’s poultry industry is on edge after another outbreak of avian flu was reported on a farm in the North West, a discovery likely to prompt more neighbouring countries to ban the importation of local broilers and eggs.

Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique suspended poultry imports from SA in a bid to stop the disease spreading.

Colin Steenhuisen, interim GM of the egg unit of the SA Poultry Association (Sapa), said on Wednesday he was told unofficially that Lesotho had also banned poultry imports from Gauteng, where the outbreak was detected. Eswatini is said to be holding discussions with SA’s department of agriculture on a possible suspension of imports.

The first outbreak was detected last week on a Gauteng farm. A second outbreak was reported on a North West broiler breeder farm. All birds were being culled and buried under state supervision on Wednesday, said industry body Sapa.

The poultry industry is the agriculture sector’s largest segment, contributing about R50bn a year to SA GDP, and is responsible for at least 110,000 jobs.

The department of agriculture did not respond to questions sent earlier on Wednesday.

SA mainly exports to neighbouring countries including Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Exports totalled R1.2bn in 2019, but the industry has been working on opening up new markets in line with the new poultry master plan that includes measures to boost domestic demand and the affordability of local broiler products.

Exports slowed from 2017 when some neighbouring countries suspended imports from SA after avian flu broke out in the country. This outbreak is said to have cost the industry nearly R2bn in lost egg and broiler meat sales and biological losses.

The latest bans will hit a sector on the back foot in recent times due largely to cheap imports mainly from Europe and Brazil. In addition to reduced demand due to the Covid-19 economic crisis, the sector has been hard hit by a sharp increase in production costs that threatens its viability.

Steenhuisen said the latest bans will cause a decrease in sales. “We are hoping that our state animal health [department] is successful in negotiation with [their] counterparts to undo these bans as soon as possible,” he said. On the first reported outbreak on the Gauteng farm, Steenhuisen said all 240,000 birds were culled and buried under state veterinary supervision. There is no vaccine or treatment for avian flu. In most parts of the world infected birds are culled. Humans can get avian flu through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. Recent strains of avian flu detected in SA showed no sign of being infectious to people, the department of agriculture said previously.

Steenhuisen said that both eggs and broiler meat were safe to eat, provided they were cooked properly, above 60°C.