Authorities left with egg on their faces
Lack of production standards
After 32 years of independence, Namibia still has no standards for the production of chicken.
JM KRETSCHMERResearch performed in developing countries across the globe has indicated how lucrative poultry farming can be, especially in rural communities, simply because it can be performed on a smaller scale, it produces both meat and eggs – both essential sources of protein, and it is relatively cost-effective.
Even in developed countries, chicken is lucrative because of its perceived health benefits as opposed to red meat. And yet, 32 years after independence, Namibia still has no standards for the production of chicken. Not one, save the regulations for animal feeding, because we export beef to the European Union, and that imposed by them, on us and some veterinary guidelines and rules.
In February 2020, the then information minister Stanley Simataa announced cabinet’s approval of the development of a Poultry Master Plan. At the time, he bemoaned the levels of imported chicken in Namibia and said cabinet had expressed its concern over the “increased dumping of low-quality foreign products in the local market” which limits local producers’ ability to get market share because “foreign poultry products are cheaper”.
The Namibia Standards Institute, (NSI), confirmed that in January this year, documents pertaining to a public enquiry on the establishment of standards for local poultry production were circulated for inputs which close on 26 March. Following this, the NSI’s technical committee will be tasked with finalising the standardisation process. The timeline for this is unknown.
RISK
But it could not come soon enough because at the moment anything is allowed and producers, small and large, as well as importers, are left to regulate themselves, often placing the consumer at risk.
Internationally, poultry production has several biosecurity risks and is particularly vulnerable to Campylobacter and Salmonella spp. infections. This in turn has led to blanket antibiotic use. It is estimated that 66% of global antibiotic use is on farm animals.
This is not only a risk to consumers but increases resistance as well. The EU is set to ban the routine use of antibiotics, including preventative group treatments, this year. While the use of growth hormones is also banned in the EU, 30 countries, including Brazil where a lot of our imported chicken comes from, still allow it. But antibiotics are also used, dissolved in water, to enhance growth.
The use of antimicrobials has also led to an increase in resistant bacteria and more often than not, commensal bacteria, those in the mouth of the animal, can become a reservoir for resistance genes for highly infectious bacteria. This resistance can spread into water sources and soil and may persist.
Antimicrobials are used to enhance growth and studies performed in South Africa show that stopping the use of antimicrobial growth promoters also decreases the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria. Namibian producers currently do not use antibiotics in its feed, but more regulation is necessary to ensure harmonised standards.
CANNIBALISTIC CHICKEN
Although not permitted in Namibia, the use of animal by-products in animal feed is commonplace in broiler industries around the world. By-products include anything from meat and bone meal, blood and feather meal and animal waste including pig waste, poultry litter, and ruminant waste. The John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has also questioned the inclusion of companion animals, like cats and dogs, in animal feeds.
Residues of pentobarbital used to euthanise pets and not horses or cattle, were found in several samples tested by the American Food and Drug Administration.
John Hopkins further reports that “the FDA has stated that it is aware of the sale of dead, dying, disabled or diseased animals to salvagers for use in animal feed.”
Both South Africa and Brazil, suppliers of poultry meat to Namibia, use animal by-products in their poultry feeds. The use of these products in chicken feed is simply to bring down the costs of production.
LOCAL STANDARDS
These are all matters that must be addressed in local standards, both for local production and for imports.
Currently there is only one large-scale chicken producer, Namib Poultry Industries, (NPI), established in November 2011 and since then, the company has applied its own standards, benchmarking its production on the internationally accredited FSSC 22000 Scheme which has had international recognition for the highest standards globally in the food industry since 2010. Industry is calling for standards to ensure that both local poultry meat and imported poultry meat conform to these standards.
According to Johann Allen, NPI’s quality assurance manager, there are no local standards to adhere to and their current systems are voluntary. All feed is vegetarian with no blanket antibiotics that are used.
Allen says contracted veterinarians ensure the health of the birds, along with the strictest biosecurity protocols to prevent disease outbreaks in the first place. For frozen chicken, the FCCS 22000 audit criteria are used and no phosphate brine is used in NPI’s products.
In the meat, poultry and fish industry, phosphate salts are used for improving water retention in meat, as well as stabilising the texture, slowing down oxidation reactions, reducing shrinkage during cooking and to enhance flavour, colour and appearance. However, phosphate salts also leach calcium from bones and can have adverse effects on kidney function, amongst others. It is allowed elsewhere.
REGULATIONS
The only regulations pertaining to imports are from the agriculture ministry’s veterinary services that would halt imports when diseases such as Avian flu or Newcastle disease occur in source countries. The Agronomic Board also regulates the importation of grains but that is for human consumption, not animal feed.
With new major role players set to enter the chicken business soon, standards are of critical importance. They should also be high and comply with international benchmarks because then, Namibia too can become an exporter of high-quality chicken, much like our beef is in demand in Europe. But currently, poultry is not in the legislation of any of the regulating bodies, so anything goes.
Industry players and global consumers are calling for regulations that no antibiotics or animal by-products are allowed in the feed or water, and a maximum limit of 25% brine. This will ensure a healthy industry that is in line with international standards.
*JM Kretschmer is a freelance journalist