Pixabay
China has lifted its months-long restrictions on South African wool products imposed in April due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
In a statement, the Ministers of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, and Trade Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, both welcomed the news.
The Department of Agriculture said South Africa produces over 42 million kilograms of wool from 8000 commercial sheep farmers.
Spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, says, in addition, there are 40 000 communal smallholder farmers who contribute 14% of the total wool exports.
“These farmers would have suffered an irrecoverable loss of R730 million if the restrictions continued. The wool export industry is worth R1 billion,” he said.
“We welcome the decision by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China to lift the ban on the wool and other cloven-hoofed animals' skin products imported from South Africa as announced today,” said Minister Didiza
Minister Patel said, “the engagements with the People’s Republic of China have been conducted in a positive manner and the coordinated efforts by different parts of the SA government greatly assisted.”
