SA ban of Brazil's imported meat will restore jobs: RPO
The Red Meat Producers Organisation believes the decision to ban some meat imports from Brazil is good news for the South African meat industry.
The organisation has welcomed government's move to suspend meat imports from certain establishments in the South American country.
Brazil, the largest exporter of beef and poultry, grabbed headlines this week after reports that some establishments have been exporting rotten and substandard produce to various countries - which could include South Africa.
Our government has now asked authorities there to provide information on which establishments are involved in the meat scandal.
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The local poultry industry has been severely affected as Rainbow Chicken retrenched 1 350 employees at the end of January.
Koos van der Ryst, who's with the Red Meat Producers Organisation, has thanked the Agriculture Department for taking swift action.
"We can tell consumers that meat from the South African origin is good, healthy and safe to use. The fact that the ban is on at this stage will help the poultry sector restore some of their workers and help produce poultry more economically," he said.