Agriculture Official Supports Ostrich-Meat Ban. (25 November, 1996)

Frans van der Merwe, the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, has come out in support of the European Union's ban on the export of South African ostrich meat despite an outcry by two leading veterinarians. Van der Merwe said last week that South Africa appreciated the EU commission's concern for the safety of consumers. The ban followed a Congo-fever scare in Oudtshoorn in which one worker died and fifteen others were treated for the disease.

Van der Merwe's statement came in reaction to charges by leading veterinarians earlier in the week that the EU's move lacked scientific justification and was part of a bid to cripple the ostrich-meat export industry. Van der Merwe said his department accepted that a review of the ban would only be possible if supported by scientific evidence. The health department's National Institute of Virology, the Agricultural Research Council, the Klein Karoo Co-operative and the Directorate of Veterinary Public Health are conducting research to establish the risks posed by ostrich meat.

The results of the research will be made available to the EU. If necessary, a South African delegation will travel to Brussels to give further evidence. Van der Merwe said that though the outbreak of Congo fever had placed the ostrich industry in an unfortunate position, it was necessary to wait until the results of the research were made available before doing anything. The results are due out in six to eight weeks. By Francoise Botha. Courtesy of The Star.