Debate On Live Sheep Exports From South Africa Intensifies

Agricultural organisations in favour of live sheep exports by sea have welcomed the recent all-clear verdict of veterinary health experts on Kuwaiti export company Al Mawashi’s premises in the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, as the controversy surrounding these live exports rages on, more organisations are expressing their opposition to the practice. Lloyd Phillips reports.

- Lloyd Phillips

Organised agricultural organisations have concluded that the South African side of the controversial live sheep exports by sea process meet the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) standards for animal health and welfare.

The inspection carried out recently by two veterinary health and welfare experts, on behalf of the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF), covered both the feedlot where the sheep were currently being held, and the ship on which the animals would be transported to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

This was according to a joint statement by Agri SA’s president, Pierre Vercueil, and Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) chairperson, Koos van der Ryst.

“In [the experts’] opinion, both the ship and feedlot are compliant. The RPO, as a member of the RMIF, has been furnished with documentation and reports relating to the previous two [live sheep] shipments [undertaken] by Al Mawashi from South Africa. Government officials tasked with ensuring [animal health and welfare] compliance have indicated in these reports that the OIE standards have been complied with,” they said.