South Africa has renewed its negotiations with the European Union (EU) to export beef and venison after it lost market access in 2011 due to foot and mouth disease. Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana said last week that the embargo on exports of both beef and game meat in 2011 had cost South Africa an estimated R4 billion in lost trade revenue. The World Organisation for Animal Health declared South Africa free of the disease in February 2014. Zokwana added that SA was actively seeking new export markets for both beef and game meats such as kudu and impala.
