The European Union (EU) has decided to continue a ban on ostrich imports from South Africa until March 2005 despite the fact that the outbreak of avian influenza is now under control.

The ban was imposed in August following the outbreak of the disease and was due to be lifted at the beginning of January next year. However, as the South African authorities failed to officially notify the EU that the disease had been brought under control, the ban has now been extended until the end of March.

This extension could have devastating effects on the industry in South Africa - the world’s largest exporter of live ostriches – which has already suffered greatly following an enforced culling of 22,000 ostriches following the outbreak. Some in the industry predict that the extended ban could lead to losses in the region of R50 million ($7.5 million) per month. 

The ban - which covers live ostriches, meat, eggs, and pet birds - excludes leather imports, but these will be affected negatively by the slowdown in the industry.

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