by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has called for an urgent investigation into the pricing of imported chicken, warning that apparent under-declaration and over-declaration could be costing the country millions of rand in unpaid duties.
SAPA Broiler Organisation chief executive Izaak Breitenbach said the concerns had been raised with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), with the association also planning to approach the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance.
According to SAPA, SARS import statistics for the first half of 2026 indicate that the value of up to 50 percent of poultry imports may have been under-declared.
The association alleges that dutiable chicken products have in some cases been imported at unusually low prices, while mechanically deboned meat (MDM), which enters South Africa duty-free, has been declared at significantly higher prices.
SAPA said the apparent disparity could allow foreign producers to offset losses on underpriced dutiable products through higher-priced duty-free MDM, although there is no evidence that this is a deliberate strategy.
“This apparent tariff evasion on poultry imports could be costing South Africa thousands or even millions of rand in unpaid import duties,” Breitenbach said.
The association said most of the questionable pricing involved imports from Brazil and Argentina, which together account for about 90 percent or more of South Africa’s poultry imports. It also identified unusual consignments from the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain.
Examples cited include Brazilian leg quarters imported at R2.07 per kilogram, compared with a usual import price of R19-R20 and a Wageningen University reference production cost of R25.43.
Argentinian leg quarters were reportedly imported at R12 per kilogram, against usual prices of R18-R19, while Brazilian offal arrived at R5 per kilogram compared with usual prices of R7-R8.
SAPA also highlighted MDM imports from Brazil, normally priced at R8-R11 per kilogram, with numerous consignments declared at R15-R18. Similar Argentine MDM consignments, usually priced at R9-R12, were declared at R17-R21.
Other anomalies included Brazilian chicken livers imported at up to R14.96 per kilogram, against usual prices of R7-R8.
In May, nearly R3 million worth of leg quarters from the Netherlands were imported at R102.67 per kilogram, almost three times the reference production price of R34.47.
SAPA said an investigation was necessary to protect both national revenue and local poultry producers from potentially unfair competition.
– CAJ News