“It’s clear that British farmers are starting to see the fruits of renewed efforts to open up global markets, offering a boost to the agricultural sector and the wider economy.”
British farmers are celebrating a major breakthrough this week after it was announced UK poultry meat exports to South Africa are back on the table, in a deal estimated to be worth around £160 million over the next five years.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the renewed access marks the end of an eight-year hiatus, during which British poultry was barred from South African markets due to bird flu restrictions.
The UK was declared free of avian influenza in May, paving the way for trade negotiations to reopen.
The South African market has long been a key destination for UK poultry exports, with sales reaching over £37 million back in 2016. Regaining access to this market has been a priority, with UK working closely with their South African counterparts to secure this deal.
The British Poultry Council’s chief executive, Richard Griffiths called the news “incredibly exciting” for the industry.
“British Poultry Council members are critical to both domestic and global food security, supplying half the meat the nation consumes each year, and providing breeding stock for 70% of all poultry eaten globally. Resuming trade with South Africa after the lifting of the avian flu ban is a shining example of government and industry pulling together to overcome trade barriers.”
Defra has pledged to work closely with UK poultry producers, traders, and industry bodies to ensure a smooth transition as exports to South Africa resume. The department is keen to avoid any delays, ensuring British farmers can quickly benefit from this revitalised trade route.
This latest win for UK agriculture follows the recent success of securing new export opportunities for beetroot to the United States, expected to bring in around £150,000 per year.
A spokesperson said: “It’s clear that British farmers are starting to see the fruits of renewed efforts to open up global markets, offering a boost to the agricultural sector and the wider economy.”
Daily mail- Britain is bursting at the seams, its time to pull up the drawbridge. Nobody wants mass immigration- there is a limit to how many people we can take, hence why we need hotels to house the immigrants at a huge cost to taxpayers. Its total madness and its got to stop.