SA chicken producers say they can fill the gap as bird flu halts Brazil imports

South African poultry producers are confident that the country will avoid chicken shortages following a government ban on imports from Brazil due to a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu. The outbreak, confirmed by Brazil’s ministry of agriculture and livestock a week ago in the Rio Grande do Sul state, has led South Africa to suspend the import of live poultry, eggs, and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Brazil. South Africa’s department of agriculture confirmed that no new import permits would be issued. Phemelo speaks to Director of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development, Dr Mpho Maja.