South Africa protects its poultry producers with some of the highest import duties in the world. Fifteen years after the sector became globally competitive at farm level, that protection has not translated into export success, and it is now colliding with a worsening affordability crisis at home.

In March 2020, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) implemented an increase in Most Favoured Nation (MFN) customs duties on imported poultry to protect local producers.

These duties are applicable to chicken imports from all countries except the EU, the UK and SADC nations:

 

Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Duties 2013 – 2020		Effective March 2020
Frozen bone-in portions	37%	62%
Whole frozen chicken	80%	82%
Frozen boneless portions	12%	42%
Frozen carcasses	31%	31%
Frozen offal (heads, livers, feet)	31%	30%

 

In addition, anti-dumping duties apply to specific countries after applications by the SA Poultry Association (SAPA) in collaboration with ITAC.

 

Anti-Dumping Duties
Country	Tariff Rate	Product Scope
United States	R9.40/kg	Bone-in chicken portions
United Kingdom	30.99%
Netherlands	22.81%
Germany	73.33%
Brazil	3% – 265%
Denmark	7% – 67%
Ireland	2% – 37%
Spain	7% – 85%
Poland	2% – 96%

 

If South Africa is now among the world’s most efficient poultry producers, why do such extensive trade protections remain in place?

Simultaneously, The South African Poultry Master Plan aims to export 3% to 5% of local chicken production, increasing to 7% to 10% by 2028, by opening major international markets for local producers.

This trade contradiction has become increasingly difficult to defend in a market where chicken is the most widely consumed animal protein, and where malnutrition and affordability continue to shape the wellbeing of South Africans.

 

The Master Plan’s Limited Outcomes

The master plan aimed to expand local production and reduce reliance on imports by developing export markets. While domestic output has increased, export performance has not improved. South Africa has not secured access to high value markets such as the EU, largely due to regulatory barriers.

Instead of encouraging competitiveness, the tariff structure has created a highly protected domestic environment. Producers have had fewer incentives to pursue export certification, diversify product offerings or meet international standards. The result is a sector that performs well at farm level but remains absent from global trade.

 

Consequences for Consumers and Food Security

High poultry tariffs have raised prices for consumers, particularly those in low-income households. Chicken is a core source of affordable protein, and any increase in cost has immediate consequences for food security.

The country also relies heavily on imported mechanically de-boned meat (MDM) and low-cost poultry by-products such as feet, necks and livers. The 2025 disruptions in imports from Brazil highlighted how dependent South Africa is on these products. They are essential inputs for processed foods that contribute to millions of meals each week. When imports are delayed, the impact is felt across the entire protein supply chain.

This vulnerability shows that tariff protection has not strengthened national resilience. Instead, it has increased exposure to external shocks.

 

Policy Priorities for Reform

A neutral assessment of the evidence suggests three areas where policy adjustments would improve food security and trade alignment.

 

1. Review Poultry Tariffs

A downward review of poultry duties is justified. These products are not luxury goods. They are central to national nutrition. Temporary protections should not become permanent barriers to consumer affordability and competitiveness in the poultry market.

 

2. Modernise Border Management

The Border Management Agency should adopt internationally recognised, risk-based systems for verifying veterinary health certificates.

While the country has made substantial progress in digitising its overall Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) frameworks, the adoption of digital veterinary systems (sanitary) lags behind its highly successful plant-based (phytosanitary) counterpart. Veterinary trade verification remains a hybrid system that heavily relies on physical paperwork, manual inspections, and regionalised digital tools.

Current paper-based processes create unnecessary delays and increase costs. Electronic verification would improve efficiency and support stable protein supply.

 

3. Strengthen Regulatory Barriers

South Africa should prioritise the removal of practical regulatory blocks that prevent poultry and meat exporters from accessing, retaining and expanding priority markets. This requires predictable veterinary certification, faster approval of export facilities, consistent interpretation of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements across national and provincial authorities, and stronger government-to-government engagement with importing countries.

Where exporters face delays in inspections, unclear documentation requirements or inconsistent application of disease-control rules, trade partners lose confidence in South Africa’s ability to deliver reliable, compliant product.

Addressing these constraints would strengthen regulatory credibility by making compliance clearer, more transparent and more internationally aligned.

A more efficient export-control system would support bilateral trade by giving partner countries confidence that South African poultry and meat products meet agreed standards, while also enabling local producers to compete in higher-value markets and demonstrate that South Africa is dependable.

 

Final Thought

South Africa’s poultry tariff structure has not delivered the transformation envisioned in the master plan.

Instead, it has increased costs for consumers, limited export development and exposed vulnerabilities in the protein supply chain.

Aligning domestic trade policy with international best practice is essential for improving food security, strengthening trade credibility and ensuring reliable access to affordable poultry proteins.