After two-month halt in poultry trade, South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) officially reopened import permits for poultry from Brazil on 4 July 2025.
This marks the end of a blanket ban imposed in response to the 15 May confirmation by Brazil’s highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak at a commercial poultry farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul.
While DALRRD moved to a regionalised protocol on 19 June, it took a further two weeks of negotiation between Brazilian and South African authorities to finalise an updated Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC).
Meanwhile, Brazil was officially declared free of avian influenza as of 26 June.
With the certificate terms agreed, new Veterinary Import Permits (VIPs) began issuance on 4 July 2025, replacing all previously issued permits.
The Strategic Importance of Brazil for South Africa
Brazil is a cornerstone of South Africa’s poultry supply, filling a gap in demand that local producers are unable to fill.
Imported chicken accounts for approximately 20% of South Africa’s poultry consumption.
Brazil supplies 92% of South Africa’s MDM (mechanically de-boned meat) (MDM) and 73% of other poultry imports including bone-in portions and offals.
South Africa relies on imports for mechanically deboned meat (MDM), a crucial ingredient in processed meats.
Chicken offal and MDM are essential for school feeding programmes and affordable proteins for low-income households.
Brazilian MDM provides more than 400 million poultry-based meals monthly, and the meat processing sector in South Africa employs over 100,000 people.
Market Impact
The resumption of trade provides significant relief to both the industry and consumers.
However, poultry imports from Brazil are anticipated to arrive in South Africa within approximately six weeks, considering the required time for order placement, shipping, and customs clearance.
The events surrounding Brazil’s avian influenza outbreak and the protracted process of resuming imports underscore the pressing need for South Africa to become nimble and strategic in managing animal disease risks.
Blanket bans, while intended to safeguard public health, have proven blunt instruments—disrupting supply chains, endangering jobs across the meat industry, and most acutely impacting food security for lower-income households.
In contrast, a regionally nuanced system, swiftly implemented, could mitigate unnecessary economic damage while maintaining health safeguards.
As South Africa now grapples with its own bird flu outbreaks, policymakers must place food security and supply chain stability at the forefront, adopting proactive, science-based protocols that balance safety with economic resilience.
Only with such foresight can we ensure continued access to affordable protein and protect the livelihoods that depend on it, even in times of crisis.
