Somerset East – The local ostrich industry was dealt a serious financial blow when the European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday evening that it was banning the import of ostrich meat, eggs and other products from South Africa until January 1 2005.

The EU decision came as an unwanted surprise for the local ostrich industry since the SA government on Friday already announced a voluntary 30-day ban on exporting ostrich meat to the EU.

Preliminary estimates were that the 30-day ban would lead to a R100m loss in the industry. Government and the local industry believed that the ban was necessary to protect the industry’s international export status and long-term integrity.

Anton Kruger of the SA Ostrich Chamber of Business said on Tuesday night that the industry viewed the EU decision in a very serious light, but also trusted that government and the industry would do everything in its power to have the ban lifted.

Kruger said one option was to keep Europe informed at all times and to ask for the ban to be lifted once the 30-day period has expired.

He added that South Africa’s status as the leading supplier of ostrich products in the world was not in jeopardy and that the industry would not lose its market share in the EU.

Nearly 90% of all locally produced meat is destined for the EU. South Africa also supplies 65% of all ostriches in the world and 90% of all ostrich products.

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza visited Somerset East earlier on Tuesday with the good news that the ban on the export of all poultry would be relaxed to minimise the losses in the ostrich and poultry industry.

Security beefed up

Didiza, the MEC for agriculture, Max Mamase, and other top officials visited the town to negotiate with local farmers about damages for the ostriches that contracted the deadly avian flu virus and that were put down in their dozens by government officials on Tuesday.

Didiza described the impact on the country’s economy as “not big or small, but relative”.

Meanwhile, security measures at roadblocks have been stepped up with heavily armed soldiers, traffic officials and representatives of the department of agriculture on duty around the clock.

Didiza warned media teams to stay away from the farms and a cameraman from the SABC nearly lost his camera when he came into conflict with a traffic official at one of the nine roadblocks.

About 6 000 ostriches on the two contaminated farms will be rendered unconscious and shot in the brain with pen pistols within the next few days.

The carcasses will be dropped in huge holes, covered with chalk and buried.

Didiza said compensation for the 2 000 ostriches that had already died of avian flu on the farms of Sid Birch near Middleton would not be paid out.

However, 100% of the slaughter price for ostriches will be paid out under the Animal Disease Act for ostriches put down by government.

Didiza dismissed rumours that avian flu also broke out elsewhere in the country, but said ostrich farms in all other provinces would be strictly monitored over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Klein Karoo Group in Outshoorn has assured consumers that ostrich meat distributed by this group is safe to eat.

The Klein Karoo Group has established a 24-hour hotline for consumers with any queries about ostrich products and the health aspects involved. The number is 082 643 2686.

Source: News24.Com
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/New…/p>