South Africa will not impose a blanket import ban on poultry from Brazil, only restricting shipments from premises where Newcastle disease outbreaks have been reported, Reuters reported, citing the department of agriculture on Wednesday.
Newcastle is a highly contagious and viral disease affecting birds, like avian flu. South Africa imports about a fifth of its annual poultry consumption, with Brazil providing at least 70% of total imports.
South Africa said it had been notified of the initial outbreak in the southern state of Santa Catarina by Brazilian authorities on October 20.
The African country would not impose a countrywide restriction on poultry and poultry products from Brazil, the department of agriculture said in a statement.
Veterinary health certificates agreed by the two countries allow trade in fresh poultry meat, hatching eggs and day-old chicks to continue despite the outbreak, subject to import requirements, it said.
Brazil on October 27 announced a third Newcastle disease outbreak at a poultry farm in Nova Erechim, in Santa Catarina state.