South Africa - Govt tight-lipped over EU ostrich ban
Published:October 15, 2004
Source :SABC News
The department of agriculture and land affairs has failed to comment on the extension of a ban by the European Union (EU) on imports of South African ostrich products to European countries.
Segwati Mahlangu, the department's spokesperson, promised to issue a media release and to explain the situation after lunch today, but numerous attempts to reach him afterwards were unsuccessful.
The EU issued a statement from Brussels this week, saying it has extended until the end of March next year, the ban on imports of ostrich products and live ostriches. The EU made this decision because it had not received a report from South Africa on the situation after avian flu broke out in the Eastern Cape.
Ostrich farmers and some opposition parties say the department's ineptitude in this matter has robbed ostrich farmers of billions of rands.
