While expanding red meat exports has been one of the South African agriculture sector’s good news stories, shortcomings in animal health and traceability are dragging prices below those of competitors. - Advertisement -A lack of a universal, state-run traceability system and ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks are costing South Africa in key export markets. In Qatar, to which South Africa recently lost market access due to traceability deficiencies, South Africa earned US$6 471/t, compared with Australia’s US$15 477. They added: “This status facilitates broader market access and enables Australia to meet the stringent sanitary requirements imposed by premium markets. “South Africa’s ongoing FMD outbreaks restrict direct access to high-value markets and export markets in general, requiring extra regulatory measures to maintain trade credibility.