Zuko Komisa

South Africa has moved to suspend imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh poultry meat from Brazil following a confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the South American nation.
The drastic measure aims to protect South Africa’s poultry industry from the spread of the virulent H5N1 virus.
This decision by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development comes after Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock officially reported the HPAI (H5N1 – clade 2.3.4.4b) outbreak on May 15, 2025.
The virus was specifically identified in a flock of breeding chickens at a facility located in the municipality of Montenegro, within the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
As a direct consequence, the South African department announced on Wednesday that it will no longer issue new import permits for the affected poultry products.
However, there are some exceptions to the ban; consignments of poultry products that were already packed in their final packaging on or before April 30, 2025, will still be permitted entry.
Additionally, heat-processed poultry products, where the risk of viral transmission has been effectively neutralized, will also be allowed.



