Al Mawashi SA stresses importance of APAC registered livestock agents

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"Al Mawashi SA’s diversified procurement strategy includes direct trade with farmers and uses reputable livestock agents. In terms of maintaining a list of preferred livestock agents for shipments in 2022 and beyond, Al Mawashi SA will only conduct business with livestock agents that are APAC registered and those with a good biosecurity standing," said Ilyaas Ally, Al Mawashi SA managing director.

Al Mawashi SA recently held a workshop with APAC’s registrar, Francois Knowles in East London. The meeting was facilitated by the Eastern Cape Red Meat Producers' Organisation.

"Biosecurity is an important bedrock of live exports. In this regard, we welcome the publication and gazetting of Biosecurity Rules for Livestock Agents (Rules) in 2020 and the enforcement thereof through auditing processes by APAC," said Ally.

"The rules and APAC auditing process provides an additional layer of biosecurity protection to the Middle Eastern import countries and our company before animals arrive at our Berlin feedlot, where they will go into export quarantine before being loaded on accredited livestock carriers for shipments to the Middle East," he said.

In July this year, APAC officially implemented the gazetted rules and agents are now eligible to be audited by an independent third party which will assess and ensure biosecurity compliance.

"Livestock agents were invited to inform APAC of their state of readiness in terms of the published rules in September 2021, and APAC, in turn, published a report on the inputs received by livestock agents to indicate biosecurity readiness for auditing processes."

Ally encouraged red meat producers and livestock farmers to check if their livestock agents are registered with APAC and have a good biosecurity standing with the council if they intend to supply animals via one of the three channels.

"Through the publication of biosecurity rules and enforcement through auditing, the South African livestock industry is tightening and strengthening biosecurity measures in order to minimise the spread of disease."

In October 2021, Al Mawashi SA met with APAC to solidify the biosecurity commitment of livestock agents. Further follow-ups are scheduled to ensure future-focused commitment, continuity and growth.

Ally said in addition to the publication of guidelines of transportation by animals by sea, the gazetting of the Biosecurity Rules for Livestock Agents is a strong signal of the government’s commitment to sustainable and long-term live exports trade with the Middle East.