UK seals deal to resume poultry exports to South Africa after eight-year gap

UK poultry can be exported to South Africa again after the two countries reached a deal to lift restrictions related to avian influenza.

The agreement was finalised last week, when the UK's food security minister, Daniel Zeichner, met with Rosemary Capa and Andrew Whitfield, South Africa's deputy ministers for agriculture and trade, respectively.

The deal has been years in the making, with teams from the UK and South African governments working with each other to secure a positive outcome.

"The development will allow UK traders to export poultry to South Africa for the first time in eight years, after restrictions were placed on UK imports following outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK," a 7 October statement from the UK government says. "The UK was declared free from avian influenza earlier this year," it adds.

Before the ban, South Africa was a significant market for UK companies – poultry exports to the country were worth more than £37mn in 2016. Now that a deal has been agreed, Zeichner says it "not only opens new opportunities for UK poultry traders, but grants a new avenue through which to grow the UK economy."

According to UK government estimates, regaining market access to Africa's largest economy will be worth as much as £160mn to the industry across the next five years.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will now work with industry bodies and poultry traders and producers to make sure that the resumption of exports goes smoothly, the government says.

The deal has been welcomed by those involved in the sector. "That trade of British poultry can resume with South Africa following the lifting of the avian influenza ban is a great example of government and industry working together to overcome technical trade barriers," says Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council (BPC). "Unlocking access to what was once one of our biggest markets is incredibly exciting." 

Katie Doherty, CEO of the International Meat Trade Association, adds: "The reopening of South Africa for UK poultry meat exports is fantastic news for UK producers and exporters – prior to the ban, it was a vital market for UK exporters." 

The agreement with South Africa comes after a challenging few years for the UK's poultry industry. In April 2024 the BPC, citing HMRC data, lamented a 56% slump in poultry exports since 2020, stating that it underscored "the erosion of British poultry supply chains due to Brexit".

"The lack of a level playing field means the UK exported 167,000 tonnes of poultry meat to the EU last year, worth £225mn – down from 380,000 tonnes in 2020," the BPC said at the time. "Conversely imports of poultry meat continue to rise, with the UK bringing in nearly 675,000 tonnes from the EU, valued at over £2bn."

The UK's total exports to South Africa came to £4.5bn in the four quarters ending Q1 2024. This marks a slight drop of 0.8% compared to the four quarters ending Q1 2023.