South Africa’s ostrich exports to the EU was dealt a blow after six birds tested positive for avian influenza in Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo.
This comes after the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the SA Ostrich Business Chamber and the EU met last week to restore credibility to the South African ostrich meat industry.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture said it would take about a year to put in place recommendations made by an EU delegation to South Africa, including restricting the birds’ movements and disinfecting trucks to abattoirs.
Ostrich meat exports to Europe were also banned last year. Before this ban, exports stood at R108 million.
Selby Bokaba, the spokesman for the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, said experts at the workshop believed that the industry had to be restructured for sustainability.
In 2005, R600m in exports was lost because of an avian influenza outbreak, resulting in the slaughter of about 26 000 birds and costing about 4 000 jobs. – Ayanda Mdluli and Bloomberg