Meat producers back export ban

Bloemfontein-Organization (RPO red meat producers) supports the suspension of all imports of cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa, it said Tuesday.

RPO manager Gerhard Schutte said South Africa was a net importer of meat, and less than 1% of the country's meat has been exported.

On Monday, Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson announced that there was a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

"The Department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has gathered some positive serological results suspects for foot-and-mouth disease, '' Joemat-Pettersson told a press conference in Parliament.

Said it had been tested more than 600 animals and 50% of them were found positive results.

"The RPO supports status in relation to the temporary suspension of exports of goods and artiodactyls while the extent of the problem was being investigated," Schutte said in a statement.

The Royal Philharmonic, said that when the scope of the disease had been established, it would negotiate with the Department of State the rest of the foot-mouth-free country.

Schutte, reiterated that foot-and-mouth disease does not affect people.

"The meat bought in formal trade is safe for humans," he said.

Schutte urged farmers to check up on their biosecurity systems.

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