China has lifted its ban on beef imports from South Africa based on the findings of an expert team that visited the country recently to study the situation around Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
On 7 January South Africa lost its 'FMD disease-free zone without vaccination' status which is granted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
A report by the then Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) confirmed an outbreak of the disease in the high surveillance area of the FMD-free zone in Limpopo.
Announcing the lifting of the ban during a media briefing held at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria on Tuesday, Chinese ambassador in South Africa, Lin Songtian, said that in May the Chinese government had decided to lift the ban on wool and animal skin imports.
He said early in June an expert team had also been sent to South Africa to study the FMD situation in the country.
Songtian added that China was the largest consuming market for South Africa’s beef, wool and animal skin products, noting that the decision made by the Chinese Government to lift the ban without the OIE status was not only a practical one but also a pioneering action to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.
In March, no new cases of FMD were detected. Daff has also successfully negotiated the revision of veterinary health certificates for beef to Bahrain, Lesotho, Mozambique, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Swaziland, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Trade in pork from FMD-free pig compartments have also been re-opened to Lesotho, Seychelles, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Namibia (partially).
– SAnews.gov.za
