Chicken imports | Avian flu disrupts supply chain

JOHANNESBURG - Local import businesses are crying foul over a moratorium on international chicken supplies.

The bans are due to severe avian flu outbreaks.

The World Organisation for Animal Health suggests poultry trading resume three months after being disease free.

READ: Blackouts cut options for chicken portions

But Hume International says government refuses to reopen trade until facilities have been physically inspected.

"OIE rules state that a country will automatically reopen three months after being declared free of bird flu," said Frederick Hume.

"South Africa used to follow this a couple of years ago but then changed that. Decided they needed to audit these factories and companies...then claimed they dont have budget for it...coudn't except payments...effectively country's that were declared free of bird flu eight years ago as in the case of France have never reopened for South Africa....we consider this a barrier to trade and a big threat."