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South Africa’s industry leaders are still struggling to make sense of China’s blanket ban on the importation of red meat and related products over the weekend, due to recurring flare-ups of foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD).
Dewald Olivier, CEO of the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), said it specifically seems nonsensical due to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the two countries signed last year.
The MOU in question was agreed upon during a state visit by South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the People’s Republic of China in September 2024. Afterwards the two nations issued a joined statement on the matter.
One of the key points of the MOU focused on FMD prevention and control, and the agreement was designed to enable beef products from South African provinces that were FMD free. This compartmentalisation clause offered a pathway for regionalisation that could safeguard trade amid localised outbreaks.
In line with the agreement, China had initially banned red meat imports only from Mpumalanga. However, this turned into a blanket ban after it came to light that infected animals had also been found in Gauteng. Both provinces’ FMD incidents could be linked to an ongoing outbreak event in KwaZulu-Natal by authorities.
“We had hoped the MOU would pave the way for more nuanced responses to outbreaks –allowing beef exports from non-affected provinces to continue,” Olivier noted. “Unfortunately, the current blanket suspension shows the complexity of implementing these agreements effectively during real-time crises.”
South African government must step in
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of Agbiz, said while one could understand that China decided to put a temporary ban on imports to protect their country, one could also argue that this was a step too far. “We’ve only had outbreaks on a few farms and all of them are nicely quarantined at the moment.”
“I’d urge the South African government to correspond with the Chinese authorities through Dipepeneneng Serage, deputy director-general: Agri-production, biosecurity and natural resources management to remind them of the fact that they could facilitate safe imports from other regions not affected by FMD.”
In 2022/2023 a similar situation arose where FMD broke out amongst beef cattle and China banned all wool products, even though South Africa had a safe way of exporting wool without exporting diseases. “Government then had to remind China of this fact, and I’d say a similar reminder must be sent once again.”
Sihlobo said it was critical to keep in mind that China is more averse to diseases due to their history. For example, when African Swine Fever (ASF) hit the country in 2018, it led to substantial economic losses and a national herd decline that lasted for years.
Reliant on exports
Olivier says in order to truly grow the South African red meat industry, exports are crucial as the local market is close to saturation. Therefore, the government and organised red meat industry are working closely together to realise the Red Meat Masterplan, through the South African Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030.
In 2024, South Africa’s beef exports had already experienced significant growth, having increased by 30% from the previous year to reach 38 657 tonnes, according to RMIS-statistics. China emerged as a key market, accounting for approximately 14% of South Africa’s frozen beef exports.
Olivier said the Chinese suspension would have a grave impact on the entire South African red meat value chain – including producers, feedlots, abattoirs, exporters, and numerous others – while compounding the challenges of biosecurity and economic uncertainty.
“This development is a stark reminder of the fragility of our export markets when faced with biosecurity threats. While we respect China’s biosecurity protocols, the economic impact on South African farmers and the entire red meat value chain is severe and disheartening.”
Collaboration with government
Despite this setback, Olivier said it’s worth noting that once the latest FMD incidents came to light the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) quickly escalated the matter. This included rapid response, containment, and intensified biosecurity efforts.
“There is currently a close working relationship between RMIS and DDG Serage whose leadership has been instrumental in guiding the industry through challenging periods,” Olivier said, adding that this relationship was strengthening the collective response and ensures that industry voices are heard and considered in policy and crisis management. – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
