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Poultry price may almost double
FMCG SUPPLIER NEWS
Fin24/ Sapa - Jul 11th, 10:25
Johannesburg - A complaint was lodged on Wednesday with the Competition Commission against the SA Poultry Association and local frozen chicken producers.
The complaint came from the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (Amie), CEO David Wolpert said in a statement.
It related to the use of the International Trade Administration Commission of SA (Itac) and customs duties to remove import competition from the market.
He said it also related to price manipulation; exclusionary practices in the transport of frozen chicken and anti-competitive and "collusionary brining" practices.
"Amie is of the firm opinion that a full market enquiry should be initiated to determine exactly what the weaknesses are and what support, if any, may be required by the local chicken industry," said Wolpert.
"This investigation should not be performed piecemeal as the consequences of any decision, which will result in increased prices, will have a devastating impact on the consumer, especially those already struggling to meet the demands of higher basic food, fuel and energy costs."
Wolpert said there was widespread support for an in-depth investigation into the chicken industry.
Consumers
He said Amie had pleaded for an investigation with the trade and industry minister and the economic development minister in May and June this year.
The Competition Commission acknowledged the receipt of the complaint and had assigned a case number, Wolpert said.
In June, Amie filed an application against the poultry association and Itac to get access to information the poultry association had supplied to Itac in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
It was opposed to increased tariffs, which it feared could be anything from 24% up to 82%.
Amie was concerned that higher import duties would push up prices for consumers, whose only source of protein, in many cases, was chicken.
It warned the move could cause job losses among the 15 000 people who cut, repackaged and distributed the imported chicken.From Fin24.com
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