
JOHANNESBURG - The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) and the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) have agreed to lift the veil of secrecy on "confidential" documents on which the protectionist application on chicken imports is based.
In a statement in Wednesday AMIE, which had launched the court action, said the move to lift the veil of secrecy effectively averted a protracted court battle.
AMIE had previously argued that the public right to information on a tariff application that could impact on the affordability of a major food source had to be considered.
In papers lodged before the Gauteng High Court scheduled on the Courts’ motion roll for 14 and 15 October this year, AMIE called for transparency regarding SAPA’s application for tariff protection to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa.
The application by SAPA requests that an increase from 37 percent to 82 percent ad valorem for "bone-in" cuts of chicken and an exponential increase from 12% to 82% ad valorem for "boneless cuts" of chicken be granted.