JOHANNESBURG, December 9 (ANA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) on Friday promised to address the concerns raised by the poultry industry in relation to the increase in imports of poultry products into South Africa.
This comes after the poultry industry, including the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), cried foul over cheap chicken imports from the European Union, Brazil and the United States which continue flooding the South African markets, saying about 6,000 workers were at risk of losing their jobs.
The dti said the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) had been working with the domestic industry to address the challenges in the industry.
“Over the last three years, upon application by the industry through the International Trade and Administration Commission (ITAC), a number of actions were taken by the Government to address the challenges in the industry,” the dti said in a statement.
“The actions vary from increase in tariffs covering a number of poultry products in line with South Africa’s international commitments, imposing trade remedies where evidence indicates dumping of poultry in the South Africa market or where there is a surge in imports.”
In 2013, the import duty on a number of poultry products was increased significantly. South Africa imposes hefty import duties to countries like Brazil and the United States.
But the import duties are not applicable to imports from the European Union (EU) since South Africa has a preferential trade agreement with the EU.
But in 2015, anti-dumping measures ranging from 3,86 percent to 73,33 percent were imposed on frozen bone-in chicken pieces from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the dti said.
The dti said the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa had also initiated a safeguard investigation in regard to the surge of imports of frozen bone-in chicken pieces from the EU and this investigation was far advanced.
“The dti and DAFF are further continuously working on opening new markets for our poultry exports. Recently new markets in the Middle East have been opened and present a further opportunity for export to the domestic poultry industry in South Africa,” the dti said.
“Furthermore, the dti is in the process of considering the designation of domestic poultry products for purposes of public procurement.”
The dti said the industry was welcome to approach ITAC through the normal processes should further support be required and on the basis of information presented by the industry, appropriate action could be taken by government.
– African News Agency (ANA)
