Agriculture European Union (EU) lifts suspension on horse Exports from South
Africa - based on a statement from the National Department of Agriculture
31 October 2006
It is with great satisfaction that I can inform the House that the European
Commission decision 2004/262/EC of 17 March 2004 which led to the suspension of
equine exports from South Africa, was repealed in Brussels on Wednesday, 25
October 2006.
In April of this year, two years after the clinical endpoint of the 2004
outbreak of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in Stellenbosch had been reached, the
European Commission's Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) elected to lift the
suspension on exports from South Africa. However, the Commission was forced to
delay the implementation of that decision following the outbreak of AHS in the
Robertson district of the BAR Valley in the Western Cape. Although Robertson is
over 100 kilometres from the Free Zone and is separated by a significant
geographical barrier, the Hottentots Holland mountain range, it forms part of
the AHS Controlled Area.
The Western Cape Veterinary Services officially lifted the Robertson
quarantine on 14 July and the final report was submitted to the European
Commission in September.
The EU suspension has, therefore, been lifted only three months after the
clinical end point of the Robertson outbreak which is a major breakthrough for
South Africa. This is as a result of the transparency that exists between the
South African Veterinary Services and its trading partners, and the
constructive negotiations that took place with the EU.
The great effort made by the Import Export Working Group, a partnership
between the Department of Agriculture (national and Western Cape Province) and
Racing South Africa, should be commended. The work of this body has paved the
way for fundamental changes to the way in which South Africa is able to
negotiate future export protocols with importing countries. Also great
appreciation is expressed to owners of horses who adhered to the control
measures implemented by the Western Cape Veterinary Services in an attempt to
prevent their animals from contracting the disease.
It is estimated by Racing SA that the cost to South Africa in the 32 month
period was R125 million. This excludes the indirect costs with reference to the
loss of confidence and the loss in market share.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Tel: (021) 483 4930
Fax: (021) 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
31 October 2006
