LOW WAGES IN THE TEXTILE SECTOR WONT MAKE IT MORE
COMPETITIVE – MINISTER DAVIES
South Africa and the United States veterinary experts met on Monday, the
14th of September 2015, in Pretoria, to take stock and advance
the technical discussions on the Animal Health issues related to the imports of
poultry, pork and beef meat from the United States.
On the poultry protocol and poultry certificate the Vets from the two
sides agreed as follows:
“The parties agree to finalize a protocol for export of poultry meat and
day old chicks based on surveillance compliant with the OIE chapter on Avian
influenza in a specified area, biosecurity measures in specified premises and
traceability of products to slaughter establishments. South Africa and the
United States will finalize terms and conditions and the USDA FSIS poultry
certificate for export by 15th October 2015 to enable
contracting and shipments of US poultry exports to entire RSA prior to the end
of 2015.”
The poultry protocol will provide the technical basis to allow for the
continued import of poultry from the non-affected areas in the US in the event
of renewed outbreaks of avian influenza.
In addition the meeting agreed that:
"South Africa shall implement the TRQ of 65 000 metric tons as
agreed in the Paris meeting in June 2015 as soon as possible with a view to
completing the administrative justice process that needs to be followed by the
end of 2015".
On beef, South Africa had already removed the ban on the imports of US
beef and had communicated this officially to the US. The vets from the two
sides agreed on the technical issues required to expedite the issuing of the
necessary animal health certificate to allow for the import of beef meat from
the US.
On pork, while the South African market for pork is open to the US, the
US two sides shared information on the technical requirements for the
importation of cuts that were of interest to the US.
South Africa also discussed some issues where it had an ongoing interest
in exporting its own animal products to the US, including beef and ostrich
meat. The US provided South Africa with information on the technical
requirements for access to the US market and agreed to expedite and facilitate
the process towards obtaining the necessary health certificates for these
products.
South Africa remains fully committed to the full implementation of the
letter and spirit of the agreements reached in Paris between the US and SA in
June on the issues related to AGOA. The process is irreversible.
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