Bird flu: Meat industry urges govt to fast-track emergency measures
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa says the government should speed up the rolling out of emergency measures to curb chicken and egg shortages and price increases.
Last week, the association said a temporary tax rebate on import duties for chicken could help cushion consumers against the rising cost of poultry products amid the bird flu outbreak.
The association wrote to Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, asking for a 12-month rebate on frozen bone-in chicken.
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It also wants duties on boneless chicken to be dropped from 42% to 12%.
The association's CEO, Paul Matthew, has raised concern that the process is being delayed by those who are opposed to the rebate.
"The sooner we start behaving like we are in a crisis, the sooner we can address the crisis, and we have just not seen that behaviour yet.
"We need the immediate and collective emergency response. The minister was sufficiently concerned about the impact of bird flu on food security to consider import duty rebates on an accelerated basis.
"It simply cannot be business as usual. All administrative measures related to permitting customs and port clearances also need to be fast-tracked in order to get the product into the market quickly."
