SOUTH AFRICA – The red meat industry is initiating a nationwide technology transfer campaign aimed at helping public and private veterinarians, along with owners of abattoirs and feedlots, comply with the strict veterinary health requirements for exporting to Saudi Arabia.
Although the market opened in December 2023, only 15 local abattoirs, which were approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, were able to meet the veterinary health certificate standards necessary for export to Saudi Arabia.
These abattoirs, alongside the country’s meat plants, were audited and granted approval to export beef and sheep meat to Saudi Arabia, but the veterinary health guidelines set by the Saudi government are proving challenging due to persistent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in South Africa.
Veterinarians play an essential role in the export process, as they are responsible for signing the animal health certificates required by both the exporting and importing countries’ governments.
With a shortage of state veterinarians, private vets must be registered by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in order to certify livestock for slaughter at farms and feedlots that plan to export meat.
Dr. Gerhard Neethling, manager of the Red Meat Abattoir Association, stated that any abattoir or feedlot could potentially export to Saudi Arabia, but only after undergoing an audit and meeting the necessary guidelines as stipulated by the DALRRD.
A lack of clear guidance on the implementation of these veterinary requirements has caused delays in approving additional facilities for export.
Workshops are being organized for both state and private veterinarians to address these challenges and provide clearer instructions on how to apply the guidelines.
Demand for South African red meat in Saudi Arabia currently exceeds the country’s supply due to the insufficient number of compliant facilities.
This initiative is part of the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030, which aims to position South Africa as a global leader in sustainable and traceable red meat production.
Exports are critical in improving the low farmgate prices for red meat, which have remained stagnant due to the weak consumer spending power in South Africa.
South Africa’s meat export market has been growing, with poultry meat exports reaching US$88 million in 2022, and bovine meat exports totaling US$97.3 million, mainly to countries in the Middle East.
Poultry meat remains the leading export, with primary markets including Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, and Eswatini.
Bovine meat exports also show strong demand, particularly from Middle Eastern nations such as Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar.
Although smaller, pig meat exports from South Africa reached US$22.2 million in 2022, with Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana as key markets.
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