Zanzibar government urged to ban chicken imports

In a bid to protect market for local farmers, Zanzibar House of Representatives members are pressing the authorities to ban importation of chicken, reports Tanzania Daily News. "There is no justification to import chicken from Brazil. We need an immediate ban on chicken from abroad," said backbenchers led by Hamza Hassan Juma. The lawmakers said that the majority of Zanzibaris do not want chicken from Brazil dubbed 'Pedu', and are also alleging that people are putting their health at risk by consuming the chicken. Debating the budget estimates for the ministry of the livestock and fishing for 2013/2014, the legislators want local livestock keepers supported to produce enough for the market, instead of allowing chicken imports. Three ministers - of fishing, trade and state minister in the vice-president’s office - lined-up in the house to defend 'Pedu' chicken. "Chicken from Brazil is safe and meets the required quality compared to those produced in Zanzibar,” they said. Despite a heavy tax on chicken from Brazil, it is still cheaper than the local chicken," said Mazrui. He also cautioned house members against their call for restricting chicken from abroad, saying "it will be a breach of World Trade Organisation (WTO) international trade agreements”. Zanzibar local farmers produce about 150 tonnes of relatively substandard chicken per month, while the demand is more than 700t. The current importation from Brazil is only 51t.