25 July 2024: In the wake of recent outbreaks of bird flu and Newcastle disease in Brazil, leading importer and food distributor Hume International has called for urgent policy reforms and greater consistency from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD).
Brazil has detected two new outbreaks of avian flu among wild birds in Paraná in recent weeks, as well as the presence of Newcastle disease at a commercial farm in Rio Grande do Sul.
As a result, Fred Hume, CEO of Hume International, has raised concerns about the potential impact of any further outbreaks on South Africa’s poultry imports and food supply chains. Brazil is the country’s largest poultry supplier, accounting for as much as 80% of all imported chicken.
“Unfortunately, South Africa has some of the most draconian policies in the world, which are out of touch with global norms and standards. In terms of our local policies, this often means placing a nationwide ban on all poultry imports from countries where bird flu may have been detected,” he notes.
By contrast, in the case of Newcastle disease, regulations state that imports are not allowed from within a 10-kilometre radius of affected facilities. However, the exact details and implementation of these regulations remain unclear, creating an environment of uncertainty for importers and other key businesses within the food industry such as manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurant franchises.
Notably, Newcastle disease, while highly contagious among birds, poses no significant threat to human health. Human infections are rare and typically non-symptomatic, and the disease is mainly a threat to local poultry flocks due to its high mortality rate among chickens.
In response, Hume highlights the need for policy certainty and a consistent regulatory approach.
“It’s illogical to have such a lax approach to Newcastle disease while being extremely stringent with bird flu. We need a balanced, consistent policy that applies a reasonable and scientifically-backed quarantine radius. Europe, for example, applies a 30-kilometre radius restriction.
“In fact, South Africa already applies a regionalisation policy to chicken imports in the United States of America, limiting restrictions to specific states in cases of bird flu. So, DALRRD would simply need to extend its policy approach to other countries, such as Brazil and Canada.”
In addition to advocating for regionalisation, he emphasises the potential benefits of implementing a heat treatment protocol for poultry, similar to the protocol used for pork to manage porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
“The heat treatment protocol has proven effective for pork imports. Applying it to poultry could likewise mitigate the risks associated with diseases like Newcastle and bird flu. This would involve importing the product and ensuring it undergoes heat treatment at approved facilities, thus eliminating any potential threat before the poultry enters the market.”
Moreover, he stresses the importance of clear communication and proactive measures from DALRRD. “The industry needs certainty and forewarning. If DALRRD can declare their position upfront and provide guidance on how they would act in case of outbreaks, it would greatly assist our planning and help us to mitigate business disruptions,” he says.
“Furthermore, the inconsistency in policy implementation across different ports needs addressing. We’ve seen varying applications of legislation from port to port. Establishing a uniform, transparent approach would eliminate much of the current uncertainty and confusion.”
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the potential impact of ongoing bird flu outbreaks on South Africa’s poultry supply, like seen in 2023. Looking ahead, Hume warns that any prolonged disruptions could lead to shortages, particularly in mechanically deboned meat (MDM) and chicken livers, which are critical for school feeding schemes.
“The market is already tight, and any delay in shipments can result in shortages and factory downtimes, affecting thousands of jobs and increasing chicken prices at a time when local households are already under enormous financial strain.
“It now falls on our new leaders in government to take action by creating a clear, supportive regulatory framework with modernised policies that will safeguard businesses and supply chains, as well as end-consumers.”
