NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) is extremely concerned about the recent report identifying horrific working conditions, amounting to slave labour, at some Brazilian poultry producers.

The US-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy says that slave labour is 'endemic in Brazil’s poultry sector. 

If the report is correct, it shows totally unacceptable working conditions at facilities supplying huge amount of chicken meat to South Africa.

Brazil is the world’s largest chicken producer, and the main source of chicken imports to South Africa. 

These imports include both mechanically deboned meat, of which Brazil has long been South Africa’s main supplier, and more recently, increased amounts of frozen chicken portions as imports from the European Union were restricted following bird flu outbreaks.

Sapa will be asking the South African government to seek urgent comment from the Brazilian government about these allegations. If they are true, urgent action needs to be taken.

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