South Africa’s Merlog Foods calls for faster digital checks to avoid poultry import backlogs

SOUTH AFRICA – South African meat importer Merlog Foods is pressing authorities to replace paper-based verification with a digital certification system to speed up poultry imports from Brazil.

The call comes ahead of South Africa’s planned resumption of Brazilian poultry imports later in August, after a temporary suspension linked to an isolated bird flu case in one state.

Currently, port officials require original paper veterinary health certificates before clearing shipments, even though they already have access to Brazil’s digital verification system.

This practice adds between seven and ten days to clearance times for containers that have already been digitally approved, creating delays that Merlog Foods says disrupt supply chains and drive up food prices.

The company has formally appealed to the government and the Border Management Authority to enable customs and port officers to verify documents in real time through the existing electronic platform.

Merlog Foods argues that such a change would cut clearance times, ease port congestion and ensure smoother supply as Brazilian poultry re-enters the market.

The firm is particularly concerned about mechanically deboned meat (MDM), a key raw material for producing processed meat items such as polony and viennas.

These products are widely consumed by working-class households and are also used in school feeding programmes, making delays a direct threat to affordable protein access for millions.

Merlog Foods estimates that persistent clearance problems could result in the loss of about 100 million meal portions each week.

The company points to the period during COVID-19 when South Africa temporarily accepted Brazil’s digital documents, saying that system worked efficiently and should be reinstated.

In addition to advocating for digital processing, Merlog Foods is urging the Department of Agriculture to complete a regionalisation agreement with Brazil.

This would allow poultry bans to apply only to affected areas during outbreaks rather than blocking all imports from the country.

The importer says this targeted approach could help protect food availability while upholding biosecurity standards.

Government officials have acknowledged industry concerns but have emphasised that protecting public health remains the priority.

Merlog Foods maintains that public safety and faster processing can be achieved together and says it is ready to collaborate with authorities to modernise import procedures.

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