International trade: Customer Information Notes - APE/08/182
SOUTH AFRICA LIFTS BAN ON EXPORTS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION DUE TO DIOXIN CONTAMINATION EXCEPT FOR PORK PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING PORK (INCLUDING PETFOOD) FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Purpose
1. To inform exporters that South Africa has lifted its suspension on imports of animal products intended for human or animal consumption which it announced last week (see CIN APE/08/180 dated 11 December) except for pork products or products containing pork (including petfood) from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Background
2. The South African authorities wrote to the EU Commission on 9th December to advise that they had suspended imports of “meat and dairy products and other edible products of animal origin (including petfood)” from the whole of the EU as a result of the recent dioxin contamination incident in the Republic of Ireland.
3. The South African authorities have now written to our CVO explaining that following the necessary assurances their suspension has now been lifted. As a result, most of the export health certificates which were suspended last week can now be released. However a small number covering pork products will remain on hold until they have been adapted to reflect the continuing ban on products from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.Further enquiries
4. Please contact your Animal Health Divisional Office if you have any queries.
Issued by: International Animal Health
Page published: 18 December 2008