Credit: @hosrokkedahl / Facebook

The UK has announced that an avian-influenza-linked trade embargo with South Africa has been lifted.

It means UK producers will be able to ship poultry to South Africa for the first time in eight years. The UK was declared free from so-called bird flu earlier this year.

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The UK government suggests this trade will be worth £160m ($209.2m) to the country’s poultry industry.

UK food security minister Daniel Zeichner met South African ministers Rosemary Capa and Andrew Whitfield last week to finalise the deal.

Zeichner said: “This deal not only opens new opportunities for UK poultry traders, but grants a new avenue through which to grow the UK economy.

“We’re one step further on our journey to securing better trade deals for UK farmers, improving industry resilience and kick-starting our food exports.”

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South Africa has historically been an important market for UK chicken producers, with exports of poultry to South Africa worth more than £37m in 2016 when the bird flu export ban kicked in.

The news the market is now open once again to UK exporters has been welcomed by meat industry body representatives.

International Meat Trade Association CEO Katie Doherty said: “The reopening of South Africa for UK poultry meat exports is fantastic news for UK producers and exporters – prior to the ban, it was a vital market for UK exporters.”

British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths added: “That trade of British poultry can resume with South Africa following the lifting of the avian influenza ban is a great example of government and industry working together to overcome technical trade barriers. Unlocking access to what was once one of our biggest markets is incredibly exciting.”