DTI officials briefing Parliament's select committee on trade and international relations are also warning that depending on poultry imports could be a risk to national food security, especially given the volatility of the rand.
Local producers blame dumping by European importers for their problems, but the European Union (EU) has disputed this, saying that structural problems in the sector are making it uncompetitive.
The DTI’s Garth Strachan says that raising tariffs on poultry imports would protect the industry but could hurt poor people by making chicken more expensive.
“Dependency on poultry imports constitutes a risk to national food security, especially given the volatile rand.”
