Industry organisation the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has welcomed the government’s “Plan A” for long-term trade resilience and competitiveness, which was jointly announced on August 12 by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

This plan emphasises market diversification and commits to protecting jobs and rural livelihoods, which are critical for South Africa’s meat export industry, the AMIE said.

This is an important opportunity to build long-term growth for the beef export sector and South Africa’s broader red meat industry.

However, to realise this growth, key operational gaps must be addressed urgently to facilitate access to new and existing export market opportunities.

These include the urgent need for the government to conclude standing regionalisation agreements for exports and imports with its trade partners. These agreements limit trade restrictions to disease-affected areas and safeguard supply chain continuity when disease outbreaks occur.

Additionally, South Africa also needs to strengthen its sanitary and phytosanitary capabilities and capacity for the meat export sector to flourish.

“Diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are likely to remain part of our reality into the future, but they do not have to halt all exports. Many of our trading partners are open to sourcing beef from areas in our country not affected by FMD, provided regionalisation agreements are already in place,” says AMIE CEO Imameleng Mothebe.

“These agreements need to be concluded before outbreaks occur to ensure trade continuity and efficiency. Timely, proactive communication from the Department of Agriculture will help secure these arrangements more efficiently,” she says.

The AMIE believes stronger and more regular engagement between the departments of Agriculture and Trade, Industry and Competition will be key to unlocking the country’s meat export potential.

“The AMIE has deep sector expertise and an established global network, as well as strong relationships with industry organisations in South Africa’s key export markets, and stands ready to support government’s trade objectives,” Mothebe says.