Lerato Mbhiza
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza has granted thousands of permits for the importation of table eggs, fertilised eggs and poultry meat to ensure sufficient stocks are available for the Christmas holiday season.
The department said on Thursday it was working with all stakeholders in the poultry industry to contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which is plaguing not only South Africa but other parts of the world as well.
The spokesperson for the Department Reggie Ngcobo said the government is doing everything possible to contain the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) plaguing not only South Africa but other parts of the world as well.
“Minister Didiza has decided to allow the importation of table and fertilised eggs and poultry meat to ensure sufficient stocks are available on time for the Christmas holiday season.”
The poultry industry is still struggling to contain the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is plaguing not only South Africa, but other parts of the world.
“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,” she said.
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 Metric 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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