Business Maverick Op-Ed: Chicken debate: See Brazil as ‘a partner, not an enemy’

The SA Poultry Association has lobbied the International Trade Commission of South Africa to increase import tariffs on chicken from Brazil from 37% and 12% to a staggering 82%. SAPA’s rationale, however, is rooted in misinformation and untruths that, if not urgently addressed, could further consolidate the local market and drive up the price of chicken, thereby imperilling South African consumers who are already under significant financial pressure.

Not only is South Africa our partner in the global drive for food security, but it is also a valued partner in BRICS. Therefore, in recent weeks, it has been deeply concerning to see protectionist voices generating misinformation about Brazilian poultry exports to South Africa in the local media. These claims are clearly motivated by commercial ambitions and a drive to blindside authorities in order to consolidate the South African market.

First, it is important to clarify: of the approximately 1.8 million tons of chicken consumed annually in South Africa, about 1.3 million comes from local poultry farmers. About 500,000 tons comes from exporters such as Brazil, the US and the EU.These figures illustrate that poultry products imported from Brazil and other chicken-exporting nations complement local demand for South African protein, as is the case in all other world markets.

In this process, Brazilian authorities guarantee the safety of all production. In other words, in addition to being inspected by South African authorities , Brazilian chicken meat is evaluated by authorities in Brazil and the other hundreds of markets they are exported to. There are more than 1,000 official and private inspections carried out annually by importing countries.

In this war of disinformation and protectionism, the biggest loser will be the South African consumer.

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