Latest news with #AvianFlu
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Merlog Foods warns SA poultry supply crisis could worsen despite lifted import ban
Merlog Foods, one of South Africa's largest importers of chicken and chilled meats, said they still expect a shortage of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) despite the department of Agriculture (DOA) completely lifting a ban on imports of poultry and poultry products from Brazil due to an Avian Flu outbreak earlier this week Image: Supplied Merlog Foods has voiced concerns over a lingering shortage of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) despite the Department of Agriculture (DoA) lifting an eight-week ban on poultry imports from Brazil due to an Avian Flu outbreak earlier this week. The ban, triggered by a case of bird flu on a single farm in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, had cut off 95% of South Africa's MDM supply from 15 May Merlog Foods manager, Georg Southey said it was expected to take a few months for supply and prices of the input material for polony and sausages to stabilise. 'We, however, believe this situation can reoccur in the case of another bird flu infection in Brazil,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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'Regionalisation is a scientific protocol supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and an agreement on this between the two countries is imperative. The DoA must urgently engage with Brazil to agree on a regionalisation protocol to prevent a full country ban in the instance of a future infection of bird flu in Brazil,' he said. 'This would be similar to a temporary year-long agreement with the US that allows individual states within America to self-declare when they are free of bird flu and continue exporting to South Africa.' Southey added that the ban on MDM and items such as chicken livers from Brazil has amplified South Africa's food security crisis, with an estimated 100 million meals lost for every week of the eight weeks that shipments stalled. 'Prices of MDM have already jumped 140%, and shortages are affecting millions of meals, which is putting pressure on school feeding programmes and food processors. The knock-on effects include rising food inflation, job losses in the food processing value chain, and increased fears regarding food security and nutrition. Brazilian suppliers stopped doing sample tests as they were unsure when trade would resume and must now conduct these tests.' Merlog Foods expects that imports will resume in the week of 14 July. However, Southey said with 6 000 tonnes per week typically required, and buffer stocks now exhausted, the effects of the shortage will be felt for months. 'With ships at sea for 28 days or more, it will take at least six to eight weeks to ramp up production, restore shipping schedules, and replenish supply chains,' Southey said. 'Consumers can expect higher prices on polony and Viennas until October, with normal supply and pricing only expected to stabilise by November 2025. Merlog Foods is relieved that there has been an agreement in solving the immediate crisis.' Gordon Nicoll, chairperson of South African Meat Processors Association, said they were relieved that the deadlock between South Africa and Brazil has been broken. 'Our members were starting to run out of stock of MDM which meant that shoppers and consumers were about to be confronted by a lack of Viennas, Polony, Russians, braai wors, on the shelves,' Nicoll said. 'Meat processors were facing widescale layoffs as factories, for almost two months, have been unable to import MDM due to the ban on poultry and poultry products from Brazil.' Nicoll added that they will still not receive imports of MDM for around five weeks – so towards the middle/end of August – which means the situation was still precipitous. 'The fact that we now have some certainty as to when we will receive new stock makes it easier to plan and allocate resources. We would still, however, encourage the government to work on a permanent solution for when we do encounter this situation again.' BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
27-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
South African poultry industry faces uncertainty despite Brazil's avian flu declaration
Farming associations have welcomed news that Brazil declared itself free of the Avian flu outbreak earlier this week. Image: supplied Farming associations across South Africa are cautiously optimistic following Brazil's announcement earlier this week that it has declared itself free of the recent avian flu outbreak. This declaration comes in the wake of the Department of Agriculture lifting its ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from Brazil, though only partially. The ban had initially been enforced after the outbreak was contained to one state in Brazil. South African meat producers on Thursday raised red flags, however, cautioning that despite this promising news, a shortage of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) was still anticipated in the local market. Francois Rossouw, CEO of Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said Brazil would need to provide sufficient evidence on their Avian Flu health for the department to completely lift the ban on poultry. 'The Department of Agriculture should carefully assess Brazil's current biosecurity measures and disease management strategies. However, it is essential to ensure that any imports do not pose a risk to our local poultry industry,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Rossouw added that the news that Brazil declared itself free of Avian flu could be seen as a double-edged sword for the South African poultry industry. 'On one hand, it may lead to increased competition, which could benefit consumers through lower prices. On the other hand, local farmers may face challenges in competing with imported poultry products. It is crucial for us to support local farmers by promoting best practices in biosecurity.' Rossouw said that Brazil's declaration indicates that they have effectively managed the outbreak, which is commendable. However, Izaak Breitenbach, the CEO of the South African Poultry Association, said raised concern about poultry imports from the United States, who themselves face an Avian Flu outbreak. Breitenbach said all poultry-producing states in the US had been affected, and 27 of those states are currently banned by the South African authorities from exporting poultry to this country. 'Decisions on which US states could or could not export poultry to South Africa should be taken by South Africa, not the US. These decisions have previously been taken by the Department of Agriculture, based on US notifications to the World Organisation of Animal Health. However, the department has now allowed the US to 'self-impose and self-lift' bird flu restrictions,' he said. 'By granting the United States the right to determine its own disease status and export policies, the department has created a serious conflict of interest. The risk is palpable: a country grappling with widespread outbreaks of bird flu can now prioritise its own interests and potentially expose South Africa to the very disease that cost this industry R9.5 billion and wiped out 30% of its long-living chicken flock in 2023. We call on the DoA to end this 'concession' and restore its role as a protector of the local industry.' The SA Meat Producers Association (Sampa) warned that processed meat producers have or will soon run out of MDM because of an impasse between South Africa and Brazil over the technicalities of lifting a ban on poultry from the South American nation. A refusal by Brazilian authorities to accept the proposed wording on South Africa's Import Health Certificate means Brazilian poultry is still unavailable to importers and manufacturers over a week later. Gordon Nicoll, chairperson of Sampa, said they were delighted the department delighted when announced last week that it would accept poultry and poultry products from non-affected Brazilian provinces as members had not received stock of MDM for almost two months. 'Some of our processors had been forced to lay off staff because factories were silent. The fact that we still can't import MDM is disastrous for our members. Even if stock is shipped immediately, we will most likely only receive it in August, which means that factories have lain idle for three months. No manufacturing business can sustain that,' Nicoll said.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
e4life Devices Take Stage at Japan Health in Osaka from 25th to 27th June
Can electromagnetic waves neutralize respiratory viruses? Now they can! This technology, developed by the Italian company e4life, has an efficacy rate of over 90% - confirmed by several research laboratories - neutralising influenza, RSV and Covid viruses, and it is capable of protecting both humans and animals against respiratory viruses In addition, a recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports demonstrates e4life effectiveness against the Avian Flu virus. Vincenzo Pompa, e4life CEO: "The One Health aims to reduce the risk of spillover between animals and humans and to allow each individual to enjoy a natural social life in safe spaces" ROME, June 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Can electromagnetic waves neutralize respiratory viruses? The answer is yes: on the stage of the Japan Health fair, from 25th to 27th June, e4life, the Italian company active in the biodefense industry, will be among the leading players presenting its innovative devices which use electromagnetic waves to render harmless respiratory viruses present in the air (transported via bioaerosol). This solution is a world first, with efficacy of over 90% and an almost instantaneous sanitizing action. Since it is 100% harmless to humans and animals, it does not require the evacuation of spaces and environments. This Italian patent does not use chemical agents or filter materials, and is based on the transmission of microwaves which, at a specific combination of frequency and power, act on the balance between the internal positive charges of the virus and the negative charges present in the capsid or outer shell, giving rise to a "resonance" phenomenon that destroys the external envelope of the virus and effectively inhibits its power to spread and to infect. The key intuitive moment came during the pandemic period and required two years of studies and in-depth analysis, starting from a research carried out by Taiwanese scientists published in the Nature Scientific Report. The first results came from testing different frequencies of electromagnetic waves on Covid and later, on other pathogens. One of the most interesting features of this new technology is the possibility of having a targeted action, allowing it to be calibrated on specific pathogens changing the resonance frequence. Its effectiveness has been validated against Covid, including recent variants, RSV and seasonal flu (in this case the effectiveness exceeds 95%), Avian Flu and Swine Flu. e4life has an important roadmap of research focused on constantly evolving and adapting the devices to an ever-increasing number of viruses and, in the near future, also bacteria. There are currently three products available using this technology, two for humans and one for animals. e4life personal is the portable, lightweight, compact version (100 grams x 8.5 cm) which is SAR certified. It is comfortable and safe to wear and is able to inactivate viruses by generating a "bubble" with a diameter of about three metres. Then there is e4life ambient which is the "fixed" version to be installed either on ceiling or walls with a range of action covering about 50 square metres. Lastly there is e4life FARM, the device dedicated to livestock farms and designed to combat animal viral diseases (actually Avian Flu and Swine Flu) which represent a threat to chicken, turkey and pigs. "This technology marks a breakthrough for applications in high-risk environments, both human and animal, such as farms, where controlling airborne virus transmission is essential, to minimize contagion among the animals themselves and also to reduce the risk of spillover - declares e4life CEO Vincenzo Pompa -. The focus and efficacy of our devices perfectly represent the meaning of what we are doing: it is the starting point of our commitment and it is closely linked to the concept of "One Health", an approach that recognizes and promotes the fundamental interconnection between human, animal and environmental health. Our goal is to revolutionize the biodefense sector through our solutions which allow each individual to enjoy a natural social life, interacting in safe spaces with no concerns or worries". Further confirmation of the value and importance of the results achieved by e4life are the numerous examples of recognition it has now received. In actual fact this technology has been subjected to scientific tests and has been validated by the Celio Military Hospital, the independent ViroStatics Institute and two studies published in the Viruses and the European Society of Medicine journals (Source: The technology has also been the subject of a test campaign carried out at Milan University's Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. The results confirm those already obtained from previous test campaigns, i.e. a replicable efficacy of close to 90%. The Bio-Medico Campus at the University of Rome has instead collaborated in working on the control and efficacy of this technology. Furthermore, the JRC–HERA technological prospective study by the European Commission Joint Research Centre includes this technology among those which are currently available that can guarantee an increase in air quality in indoor environments. The already considerable number of validations has been expanded to include certification obtained from the University of Genoa, which has tested the technology's efficacy of over 90% on influenza and Covid viruses. A final further "seal of guarantee" comes from an article in the scientific journal Nature Scientific Reports, which describes a study demonstrating the effectiveness of electromagnetic waves in inactivating the avian flu virus. Moreover, the inactivation systems for respiratory viruses using electromagnetic waves have been included in the UNI/PdR 173-1 Reference Practices for Indoor Sanitization, a document drafted by UNI — the Italian Standardization Body — in collaboration with the National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità). This document sets out the requirements for managing indoor sanitization and the solutions that, even though they are not classified as medical devices, may be used for that purpose. The e4life devices are currently certified to be marketed in Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco and Egypt. View source version on Contacts E4life press office Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
19-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
e4life Devices Take Stage at Japan Health in Osaka from 25 th to 27 th June
ROME--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Can electromagnetic waves neutralize respiratory viruses? The answer is yes: on the stage of the Japan Health fair, from 25 th to 27 th June, e4life, the Italian company active in the biodefense industry, will be among the leading players presenting its innovative devices which use electromagnetic waves to render harmless respiratory viruses present in the air (transported via bioaerosol). Vincenzo Pompa, e4life CEO: 'e4life marks a breakthrough for applications in high-risk environments, both human and animal, to minimize contagion among the animals themselves and also to reduce the risk of spillover". Share This solution is a world first, with efficacy of over 90% and an almost instantaneous sanitizing action. Since it is 100% harmless to humans and animals, it does not require the evacuation of spaces and environments. This Italian patent does not use chemical agents or filter materials, and is based on the transmission of microwaves which, at a specific combination of frequency and power, act on the balance between the internal positive charges of the virus and the negative charges present in the capsid or outer shell, giving rise to a 'resonance' phenomenon that destroys the external envelope of the virus and effectively inhibits its power to spread and to infect. The key intuitive moment came during the pandemic period and required two years of studies and in-depth analysis, starting from a research carried out by Taiwanese scientists published in the Nature Scientific Report. The first results came from testing different frequencies of electromagnetic waves on Covid and later, on other pathogens. One of the most interesting features of this new technology is the possibility of having a targeted action, allowing it to be calibrated on specific pathogens changing the resonance frequence. Its effectiveness has been validated against Covid, including recent variants, RSV and seasonal flu (in this case the effectiveness exceeds 95%), Avian Flu and Swine Flu. e4life has an important roadmap of research focused on constantly evolving and adapting the devices to an ever-increasing number of viruses and, in the near future, also bacteria. There are currently three products available using this technology, two for humans and one for animals. e4life personal is the portable, lightweight, compact version (100 grams x 8.5 cm) which is SAR certified. It is comfortable and safe to wear and is able to inactivate viruses by generating a 'bubble' with a diameter of about three metres. Then there is e4life ambient which is the 'fixed' version to be installed either on ceiling or walls with a range of action covering about 50 square metres. Lastly there is e4life FARM, the device dedicated to livestock farms and designed to combat animal viral diseases (actually Avian Flu and Swine Flu) which represent a threat to chicken, turkey and pigs. 'This technology marks a breakthrough for applications in high-risk environments, both human and animal, such as farms, where controlling airborne virus transmission is essential, to minimize contagion among the animals themselves and also to reduce the risk of spillover - declares e4life CEO Vincenzo Pompa -. The focus and efficacy of our devices perfectly represent the meaning of what we are doing: it is the starting point of our commitment and it is closely linked to the concept of "One Health", an approach that recognizes and promotes the fundamental interconnection between human, animal and environmental health. Our goal is to revolutionize the biodefense sector through our solutions which allow each individual to enjoy a natural social life, interacting in safe spaces with no concerns or worries'. Further confirmation of the value and importance of the results achieved by e4life are the numerous examples of recognition it has now received. In actual fact this technology has been subjected to scientific tests and has been validated by the Celio Military Hospital, the independent ViroStatics Institute and two studies published in the Viruses and the European Society of Medicine journals (Source: The technology has also been the subject of a test campaign carried out at Milan University's Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. The results confirm those already obtained from previous test campaigns, i.e. a replicable efficacy of close to 90%. The Bio-Medico Campus at the University of Rome has instead collaborated in working on the control and efficacy of this technology. Furthermore, the JRC–HERA technological prospective study by the European Commission Joint Research Centre includes this technology among those which are currently available that can guarantee an increase in air quality in indoor environments. The already considerable number of validations has been expanded to include certification obtained from the University of Genoa, which has tested the technology's efficacy of over 90% on influenza and Covid viruses. A final further 'seal of guarantee' comes from an article in the scientific journal Nature Scientific Reports, which describes a study demonstrating the effectiveness of electromagnetic waves in inactivating the avian flu virus. Moreover, the inactivation systems for respiratory viruses using electromagnetic waves have been included in the UNI/PdR 173-1 Reference Practices for Indoor Sanitization, a document drafted by UNI — the Italian Standardization Body — in collaboration with the National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità). This document sets out the requirements for managing indoor sanitization and the solutions that, even though they are not classified as medical devices, may be used for that purpose. The e4life devices are currently certified to be marketed in Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco and Egypt.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Urgent call to reopen poultry imports amid supply crisis
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. These countries include France (February 4, 2025), Sweden (March 31, 2025), and both Denmark and Belgium (May 23, 2025). The last recorded imports from Denmark were in 2020, when South Africa imported an average of 1 384 metric tons of poultry products per month, including both poultry cuts and mechanically deboned meat (MDM). AMIE on Wednesday also welcomed the Department of Agriculture's commitment to make a determination on a partial lifting of the Brazilian import suspension by the end of this week. This would be based on the fact that the Avian Flu outbreak is contained to the Rio Grande do Sol province in Brazil. Brazilian imports are currently halted due to the Avian Influenza outbreak in Rio Grande do Sol, which produces between 10% to 15% of all poultry in that country. Since local producers are unable to meet total demand, particularly for poultry offal and MDM, which South Africa does not produce at scale, it is critical to diversify supply sources to ensure continued affordability, availability, and market stability, it said. Imameleng Mothebe, the CEO of AMIE, said: 'Opening access to each additional AI-free market will help alleviate some of the current poultry supply gap and reduce the growing economic and food security risks created by the current overall suspension of imports from Brazil. Even with a partial lifting of the suspension of imports from Brazil, there will still be a shortfall that will need to be filled in order to maintain consumption demand in our country. Opening additional markets not only fills this gap, but also future proofs South Africa against AI-related supply shortages.' South African Meat Processors Association urged the government to implement zoning (regionalisation) with all haste. "One of our members, Sky Country Meats, has already been forced to lay off almost 100 employees, with more retrenchments to follow next week if imports of MDM are not restored as a matter of absolute urgency," it said.
