THE FALL-OUT from the pork dioxin scare continues on the international markets with South Africa’s imposition of a ban on all EU meat and dairy products.
The European Commission confirmed yesterday that the South African authorities had imposed the ban because of what it said were concerns regarding “soft borders” within the EU and the wide distribution of animal feed between member states.
“A decision has been taken to suspend all imports of meat and dairy products and other edible animal products (including pet food) from the EU to South Africa,” said an official statement.
“The South African authorities will not be issuing any further veterinary import permits for the above mentioned products from the EU and all unused permits will be withdrawn.
“The cut-off date for the recall of all Irish pork and bacon will be from pigs slaughtered after September 1st, 2008. This cut-off date will also apply to meat and dairy products exported from other EU member states to South Africa.
“Any consignments that might already be at our inspection sites, as well as en route consignments, will be detained at our ports of entry and dealt with individually.
“Meat and dairy products that have been put on the water after December 12th, 2008, will be rejected and returned to the country of origin irrespective of the slaughter or production dates. Once the source and the extent of the dioxin contamination are known, we will be in a position to re-evaluate the situation,” it concluded.
The ban is embarrassing for Ireland as it is one of the smallest exporters of pork to South Africa, with only €926,306 worth exported there last year. EU meat and dairy exports are understood to be in the region of €500 million, including Irish dairy products.
Meanwhile, talks are continuing here between the owners of the 10 restricted pig farms from which contaminated pork came and the Department of Agriculture on the logistics of slaughtering and destroying the animals which are banned from the food chain.