South Africa’s hide and skin industry is in jeopardy as the biggest import country, China, has halted all imports until South Africa regains its foot and mouth disease-free status.
China imports about 90% of SA’s skins.
Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, said in a statement that Chinese authorities required a veterinary health certificate to confirm that any sheep skins imported originated from an FMD-free zone. This also applies to raw hides and wet blue hides.
He said the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) had submitted a request to China to accept a certificate confirming that South Africa conformed to the regulations of the World Organisation for Animal Health but Chinese authorities had yet to respond to this.
“If they decide against it, we will immediately start to look for alternative markets,” said Schutte, pointing out that there were currently no restrictions on skin and hide exports to European Union countries or Turkey.
