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2 February 2010
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY DR GERT DRY,
PRESIDENT OF WILDLIFE RANCHING SOUTH AFRICA (WRSA)
WRSA supports Sable import court ruling
“Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) has an unassailable responsibility to
protect the sustainable use of game in South Africa, as well as protecting
the game and red meat industry from exotic diseases,” says Dr Gert Dry
president of WRSA. “While WRSA supports the importation of cloven-hoofed
animals, it must be done in a responsible manner ensuring that the interests
of stock farmers and wildlife ranchers, and the long-term sustainability of
both industries, are protected. It is imperative that the correct protocols
must be in place to protect local industries and the South African
population.”
WRSA supports the court order issued on 29 January, which prevents the
minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries from issuing permits for the
importation of sable antelope from Zambia, until such time as she has
conducted the risk analysis, published her proposed policy, considered
comments thereto from interested parties and only thereafter published her
decision regarding the policy on the importation of Zambian sable. The case
was brought before the court by the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF).
“WRSA is available to support the department of agriculture, forestry and
fisheries, in the development of the required protocols, risk analysis and
policies to implement the court ruling, should they need our support. WRSA
will of course fully participate in the required public participation
processes,” said Dr Dry.
The RMIF case before the court is that the RMIF is, in principle, not
opposed to the importation of Zambian sable antelope or any other
cloven-hoofed animals from Zambia. However, the question is whether or not
any cloven-hoofed animals may be imported from Zambia and what the import
permit conditions must be if importation is permitted. This can only be
determined after due process has been followed. This is essential before
such a drastic change in policy can be undertaken. It was the RMIF’s view
that due process was not followed.
For more information, contact the WRSA Head Office at 012 335 6994.
End
2 Februarie 2010
PERSVERKLARING UITGEREIK DEUR DR GERT DRY,
PRESIDENT VAN WILDBEDRYF SUID-AFRIKA (WRSA)
WRSA steun hofbevel oor invoer van swartwitpense
“Wildbedryf Suid-Afrika (WRSA) het ‘n onaanvegbare verantwoordelikheid om
die volhoubare gebruik van wildlewe in Suid-Afrika te beskerm, en ook om die
wild- en rooivleisbedryf teen uitheemse siektes te beskerm,” sê dr Gert Dry,
president van WRSA. “WRSA steun die invoer van gehoefde diere, mits dit op
‘n verantwoordelike wyse gedoen word om te verseker dat die belange van vee-
en wildboere en die langtermyn volhoubaarheid van beide bedrywe, beskerm
word. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat die korrekte protokolle in plek moet wees
om plaaslike bedrywe en die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking te beskerm.”
WRSA steun die hofbevel wat op 29 Januarie 2010 uitgereik is en ingevolge
waarvan die minister van landbou, bosbou en visserye verbied word om
permitte uit te reik vir die invoer van swartwitpense uit Zambië, totdat sy
die vereiste risiko-analise gedoen het, haar voorgestelde beleid gepubliseer
het, kommentaar deur belanghebbende partye daarop in ag geneem het en eers
daarna haar besluit oor die invoer van Zambiese swartwitpense publiseer. Die
saak is deur die Rooivleisbedryfsforum (RMIF) voor die hof gebring.
“WRSA is beskikbaar om die departement van landbou, bosbou en visserye van
hulp te wees met die ontwikkeling van die vereiste protokolle,
risiko-analise en beleid soos deur die hof beveel, sou die departement
sodanige ondersteuning versoek. WRSA sal natuurlik ook ten volle deelneem
aan die vereiste openbare deelnameproses,” het dr Dry gesê.
Die RMIF-saak voor die hof, behels dat die RMIF in beginsel nie gekant is
teen die invoer van Zambiese swartwitpense of enige ander gehoefde diere uit
Zambië nie. Die vraag is egter of enige gehoefde diere uit Zambië ingevoer
mag word en wat die voorwaardes vir die invoerpermitte moet wees indien
invoere toelaatbaar is. Dit kan net bepaal word nadat die nodige prosesse
gevolg is. Dit is noodsaaklik voordat enige drastiese veranderinge aan die
beleid gemaak kan word. Die RMIF was van mening dat dié proses nie na behore
gevolg is nie.
Vir nadere inligting, kontak die WRSA-hoofkantoor by tel 012 335 6994.
Einde
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