Market access updates – HPAI closures and re-opening
13 October 2025, Department of Agriculture Markets closed due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): Notices were issued regarding trade restrictions for Denmark and the Netherlands. Cut-off date for both countries is the 22nd of September 2025. Read the notice here. Markets reopened: Meanwhile, trade restrictions on poultry imports from New Zealand have been lifted, […]
Meat, markets and money: Empowering SA entrepreneurs for a food-secure future
7 October 2025, BizCommunity South Africa holds significant potential, thanks to its extensive agricultural land, well-established meat and livestock sectors, and robust regional and global market prospects. Nevertheless, ongoing challenges abound, including inequality, unemployment, disparities in skills and infrastructure, animal disease outbreaks, organisational weaknesses, and a call for more inclusive economic growth. Read more here.
Fuel the Future: The AMIE Academy Fund
10 Sept 2025, BizCommunity Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are widely recognised as the backbone of the South African economy. They contribute significantly to employment, innovation, and GDP growth. According to the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), SMEs account for more than 60% of all employment in South Africa and contribute approximately 34% to the […]
AMIE welcomes Minister’s update on FMD, stresses industry support to unlock vaccine scale-up
2 September 2025, Association of Meat Importers and Exporters AMIE welcomes yesterday’s (1 September 2025) briefing by the Minister of Agriculture on South Africa’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) response, including the procurement of additional vaccines, the lifting of certain Disease Management Areas (DMAs), and the establishment of an Industry / Government Task Team. These are important […]
Minister Steenhuisen to give update on FMD
28 Aug 2025, Department of Agriculture The DOA published a media advisory announcing that Minister Steenhuisen will give an update on the current Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) status on 1 September 2025 at 11:00. The minister will also outline the interventions made by the department to manage the disease. Read more here
Trade Restrictions on Argentina due to HPAI outbreaks
26 August 2025, Department of Agriculture The DoA has published a notice restricting trade following an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Argentina. Consignments containing products packed in their final packaging on or after 03 August 2025 from Argentina will be rejected and returned to Argentina or destroyed at the importer’s cost. Read […]
Avian Influenza detected in Western Cape: Public urged to stay alert, not alarmed
02 August 2025, Western Cape Department of Agriculture The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) wishes to alert poultry farmers and the general public to new outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), commonly referred to as “bird flu”. Recent outbreaks have been confirmed in chickens in North West and Mpumalanga provinces, with one poultry […]
AMIE welcomes govt’s long-term trade resilience, competitiveness plan
12 August 2025, Engineering News Industry organisation the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has welcomed the government’s “Plan A” for long-term trade resilience and competitiveness, which was jointly announced on August 12 by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. This plan emphasises market diversification and commits to […]
Trade restrictions lifted: Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium
28 July 2025, Department of Agriculture Trade restrictions have been lifted on the importation of live poultry, meat and other poultry products from Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium to South Africa. Meat with a production date of 9 May 2025 for Denmark, 16 May for the Netherlands, and 6 May for Belgium will be allowed. […]
Trade restrictions on Spain due to HPAI outbreaks
25 July 2025, Department of Agriculture The Department of Agricutlure published a notice on Friday 25 July 2025 regarding trade restriction on Spain due to HPAI outbreaks. The following cut-off dates will be applied: Consignments containing products packed in their final packaging after 02 July 2025 from Spain will be rejected and returned to Spain […]