The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) is urging the government and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen to ease stringent biosecurity regulations that are hindering efforts to vaccinate against bird flu.
The industry warns that the restrictions are slowing down its response to outbreaks, which continue to devastate poultry populations globally, including in Europe and the United States.
Following the worst avian flu outbreak in 2023, SAPA says it is scrambling for solutions to protect the sector from further losses. Industry leaders are calling for urgent intervention to prevent another crisis.