Source: MEATINGPLACE, 9/16/15


Two U.S. senators have asked South Africa’s president to act quickly to resolve the remaining issues blocking the resumption of U.S. chicken exports to the country.

U.S. and South African officials in June agreed in Paris on a framework for restoring market access that addressed anti-dumping duties on U.S. poultry products dating back 15 years.

In a Sept. 11 letter to South African President Jacob Zuma, U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said they were disappointed in South Africa’s slow response since the June agreement was reached.The senators urged the country to complete legal processes to exempt an annual U.S. quota amount from anti-dumping duties and create rules for administering the quota. The annual quota calls for 65,000 metric tons of bone-in poultry to enter the country free of anti-dumping duties, with a formula that permits that number to grow.

Another hurdle – a ban on U.S. poultry stemming from the recent U.S. avian influenza outbreaks – also has not been addressed, the senators said. They asked South Africa officials to follow World Organization for Animal Health guidelines and implement a policy of regionalization for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

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