The USA Poultry & Egg Export Councill (USAPEEC) to assist GCCA SA Members with Rejection of USA poultry by DALRRD

The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) is a non-profit trade association, and work with government and industry across the globe including GCCA.

Poultry trade re-opened to the USA in 2017 and USAPEEC has been working with trade and industry over the years to smooth out trade related issues. However, over the last few months USAPEEC has developed stronger ties with the logistics agents at various cold stores throughout the country on product rejections.

Many commercial cold storage facilities have had products arrive at their facilities which then await veterinary approval and release from the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).  Often rejection notices are issued to the importers and this leads to long delays for clearing product.

USAPEEC advised GCCA that they can assist with speeding up documentation issues for U.S. poultry product.  It is suggested that if you have American chicken in your cold store with a rejection notice, contact Zelda Sharp at the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council in Johannesburg, but please keep your client (the importer) copied in all documentation.

If a rejection notice is issued, they require a copy of the rejection notice together with a copy of the health certificate, which is then shared with the US Embassy as well as the Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) in Washington D.C. This allows them to bypass various delays between the importers and exporters, as they can liaise directly with FSIS to determine if they are able resolve the issue, by either a replacement health certificate, or a letter explaining the issue from FSIS directly to DALRRD (through the U.S Embassy).  USAPEEC is able to keep a close eye on the progress.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Zelda Sharp at the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council in Johannesburg on zelda.sharp@mweb.co.za or 082 900 5199.