China halts South African meat imports amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

SOUTH AFRICA – China has suspended all imports of beef and other cloven-hoofed animal products from South Africa following a growing outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in multiple provinces, dealing a major blow to the country’s red meat sector.

The ban, which took immediate effect on May 12, was confirmed by Chinese authorities after fresh FMD cases were reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. 

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has verified that infected livestock had been traced back to auctions held in Utrecht and Heidelberg.

“This development is a stark reminder of the fragility of our export markets when faced with biosecurity threats,” said Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS). 

“While we respect China’s biosecurity protocols, the economic impact on South African farmers and the entire red meat value chain is severe and disheartening.”

The suspension is particularly significant given that China is South Africa’s top destination for beef exports by volume. 

In 2024, South Africa’s beef exports grew by 30%, reaching 38,657 tonnes, with China accounting for 14% of all frozen beef shipments.

Dr. Mpho Maja, Director of Animal Health at DALRRD, confirmed that the recent infections were identified during routine investigations.

A farm in Mpumalanga tested positive after traces were detected in surrounding pens, despite no visible symptoms. Similarly, a Gauteng feedlot tested positive following purchases from an auction in Heidelberg.

“This incident underscores the risk of mixing newly acquired animals with existing herds,” Maja stated, reiterating that a 28-day isolation period remains mandatory for all new livestock. 

This regulation has been in place since October 2022 to curb disease transmission within farms.

In response to the outbreak, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has directed the Deputy Director-General’s office, under Dipepeneneng Serage, to spearhead intensified containment measures. 

These include enhanced disease surveillance, coordination with veterinary services, and stricter oversight of livestock movement and auction procedures.

MOU to facilitate beef exports signed last year 

The timing of China’s ban comes despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2024, which was meant to facilitate ongoing beef exports from FMD-free provinces during outbreaks. 

“We had hoped the MoU would pave the way for more nuanced responses to outbreaks, allowing beef exports from non-affected provinces to continue,” Olivier said. 

“Unfortunately, the current blanket suspension shows the complexity of implementing these agreements effectively during real-time crises.”

Beyond its impact on beef, the suspension extends to all cloven-hoofed animal products, amplifying its economic toll on producers, abattoirs, and exporters across the country. 

The Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) has echoed RMIS’s concerns, urging swift containment and revised trade protocols to prevent such wide-ranging trade disruptions in the future.

DALRRD has advised farmers to limit animal transport, adhere to strict biosecurity measures, and avoid sourcing animals from restricted zones in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape.

Under Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act, animal owners are legally required to take steps to prevent disease spread.

Olivier emphasised the need for long-term strategies: “We need solutions that serve both our domestic industry and our trade partners. Out-of-the-box thinking is essential—not just to manage outbreaks, but to protect the livelihoods of everyone in the red meat value chain.”

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