The South African ostrich industry breathed a sigh of relief following a decision by the EU not to include processed leather and feathers in the ban on ostrich imports from South Africa, after an outbreak of avian influenza.

The manager of the SA Ostrich Business Chamber, Anton Kruger, claimed that a voluntary ban imposed by the South African government applied only to ostrich meat and eggs. He said it was therefore a relief that the EU has agreed to allow the continued imports of leather and feather products, which account for some for 70 per cent of the R1.2 billion ($184.457 million) in foreign exchange earned by the local industry annually.

The decision is likely to lessen the financial impact of the outbreak, costing the industry in the region of R30 million over a 30 day period, rather than the R100 million which had been predicted. This also means that any possible job losses will be reduced, as the outbreak has fortunately occurred during the industry’s low season.

South Africa is the main supplier of the world’s ostrich leather producing around 80 per cent of hides and about 90 per cent of the ostrich meat. Hides account for about 65 per cent of the R1.2 billion a year earned through the export of ostrich products, with meat exports making up 30 percent and feathers the rest.

The outbreak of avian flu has been isolated to two farms in the Eastern Cape.  6,000 ostriches will be culled on these farms.

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