Halt to frozen chickens
EU chicken dumping in West and Central Africa
African poultry farming is facing serious damage from the import of large quantities of frozen chicken parts from the EU (and to a lesser extent from Brazil and the USA). The export of surplus meat-parts to poor countries constitues a threath to the producers in those countries. EED, ICCO, APRODEV, ACDIC and SOS Faim urge the EU
to put a stop to these destructive trade and to work towards
improved and effective rules that deliver on pro-poor trade.
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In 2005, over 11000 signatures were collected in Belgium alone against the shipment from
Europe to Africa, and in particular to Cameroon, of frozen chickens. Together with our
European and African partners we collected 62.481 signatures. This petition
was handed over to the European Union that can no longer pretend to ignore
this problem. Today the results of that campaign are encouraging in Cameroon
and more generally across Africa in terms of new alliances
and of awareness
of the European public.
This has pepped us up to carry on this fight and to undertake new ones.
1995: the import of frozen chicken by African countries explodes due to the liberalization of agricultural commodities. (Marrakech agreement)
2001: African peasants no longer find market outlets for their chickens, chicken farms close down, incomes fall.
August 2003: the SAILD (Support services to local development initiatives), a Cameroonian association, sets out to collect information of the economic, social, financial and health consequences of the situation.
April 2004: a campaign it launched in Africa and in Europe to mobilize the public to these consequences. “Mon poulet, ma poule” becomes a slogan against the shipment of frozen chickens to Africa.
October 2004: A first victory: Cameroon limits the importation of frozen chickens, suppresses the Added Value Tax on locally raised chickens and increases duties on imported chickens.
November 2004: The EU-ACP assembly, African and European associations with the support of MP’s from both continents interpellate the Commission members including the Commissioner for Cooperation Louis MICHEL.
December 2004: In Cameroon the chicken raising business is re-launched during the Year end holidays.
Mars 2005: Cameroon broadens the scope of the frozen chicken problem to the alimentary sovereignty of African countries. A petition bearing 62.4812 signatures was handed over to the European Commissioner for International Commerce demanding that the interests of the farmers of the countries of the South be privileged in the policies proposed by the European Commission ( Cotonou agreement, WTC).
