David Wolpert once again employs tired rhetoric to attack the local poultry industry, no doubt to protect his Association of Meat Importers and Exporters’ profiteering at the expense of jobs in the sector (Stop blaming imports, January 13). Local poultry producers are internationally competitive on a whole-chicken basis and would prefer nothing more than to export breast meat to Europe free of duty. Will Wolpert and his association put their money where their mouth is and provide funding and personnel so that, together, we can help the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries establish the structures and systems to enable exports to take place? Wolpert has never approached us to assist in this matter. What he has done is ask for help in managing rogue importers, who underdeclare imported chicken to avoid paying tariffs to the South African Revenue Service, to protect his profits. Far from an innocuous 14%, chicken imports cost the economy an astronomical R7bn per year. Jobs...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.