The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has issued an urgent call for government intervention to resolve ongoing delays at South African ports, which are impacting the supply of meat imports.
The delays are being attributed to revised inspection requirements introduced by the Border Management Agency (BMA) at the beginning of the year, causing the issuance of import removal permits to take up to nine days, compared to the previous 48-hour process.
AMIE says as the festive season approaches, the delays threaten to disrupt food supply chains, and AMIE warns of severe consequences for both the economy and consumers.
“Ports were already congested before the new measures were introduced at the beginning of the year,” said Imameleng Mothebe, CEO of AMIE. “Implementing sweeping changes without increasing inspection capacity or conducting a proper risk assessment is having severe consequences for trade and food security.”
According to AMIE, the new requirement for veterinary inspectors to be present during the inspection of 35%-45% of containers has significantly slowed down the process, and the lack of transparent risk criteria is making it difficult for companies to manage their import strategies.
Mothebe emphasized the need for consistency across ports, stating, “There is also currently no clear or consistent policy or standards that are being applied across the country’s ports, which is deeply problematic,”.
AMIE also stated that the delays are further compounded by coordination issues between the BMA and other agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Mothebe pointed out instances where SAPS has broken container seals during inspections, leading to the rejection of goods by veterinary inspectors, even when there is proof of SAPS interference. “We urgently need a coordinated, collaborative, and transparent approach to resolve these issues,” she urged.
With importers now facing hefty demurrage charges, Mothebe warned that these additional costs are driving up food prices, particularly for affordable proteins like polony and sausages. “Every delay in getting goods through the ports means another delay in putting food on the tables of South Africans – a delay that many simply cannot afford,” she concluded
The Mercury