Parliament, Tuesday, 9 May 2017 – Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry today continued its hearings on challenges facing the poultry industry in South Africa.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, expressed the Committee’s pleasure at having several retailers and restaurants selling chicken present at today’s hearings. Retailers included Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Spar and Nando’s were also represented.
Ms Fubbs said: “The reason the Committee took an interest in the matter is because the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is mandated to grow jobs. It became apparent that hundreds of jobs were at risk as stakeholders were blaming imports of chicken into South Africa.”
The Committee heard that most retailers are pleased with the brining regulations introduced by government. However, Spar indicated that currently there is no audit to double-check whether the current regulations are complied with as it is impossible for a consumer to see with the naked eye how much salt water had been injected into a chicken.
The Committee noted that all retailers indicated that most of their poultry is sourced locally and only about 3% is imported. The Committee was surprised as the producer and import associations had indicated that approximately 20% of chicken consumed locally is imported. So if this was the case, then who was selling the chicken if not these retailers? The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) further stated that around 230 000 tons of bone-in chicken is being imported into the country and a further 330 000 tons of deboned chicken. Most of it is sent to independent supermarkets, the catering industry and small butcheries.
Committee members further questioned the standards that the Department of Trade and Industry use to ensure the same high standards apply to imported chicken as is expected of locally produced chicken. Mr Lionel October, Director-General at the DTI, agreed that high-quality standards need to be maintained for imports as well and the importers have a critical role to play in this regard. This point was disputed in the meeting by AMIE, indicating that all chickens that enter the country via them are safe for human consumption.
Ms Fubbs said all stakeholders needed to work together to ensure a sustainable industry. “We want to create an inclusive economy. We will engage further with the DTI to ensure that the interest of our people comes first.”
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MS JOANMARIAE FUBBS
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