This follows the mid-March visit of Germany’s Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, to South Africa, accompanied by a business delegation. One of the key topics of the talks was the potential resumption of German pork imports to the South African market despite the presence of ASF.
According to Rainer, both sides agreed to jointly seek solutions that would allow the resumption of German pork exports. He noted that the discussions marked an important step forward in this process.
Cooperation on FMD will be another key focus. A corresponding declaration of intent was signed by the agriculture ministers of both countries on March 10 in Cape Town. The agreement предусматриes the exchange of expertise and the strengthening of capacities for disease prevention and control.
South Africa is currently actively combating FMD, which the government has described as a “national catastrophe.” In this context, the country is interested in Germany’s experience, particularly its rapid containment of an outbreak in a water buffalo population near Berlin in early 2025.
In addition, the two countries discussed expanding agricultural trade, including exports of German apples and agricultural machinery. Germany emphasized that South Africa remains its most important agricultural trading partner on the African continent.
PigUA.info based on materials from pigprogress.net