Ministry moves to sanitize local poultry industry
The Ministry of Trade has warned that any business in the poultry industry which will defy laws on licences risks facing the long arm of the law.
In January this year, Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe directed poultry producing companies to only concentrate on selling live poultry from their production facilities and limited designated depots by wholesale and leave all distribution and retailing to Malawian traders and farmers, which has not been the case.
According to a statement from the ministry signed by its principal secretary Christina Zakeyo, effective August 23 2021, the government will start enforcing the law, particularly on live chickens.
“Malawi Police officers will be empowered and deployed to monitor the operations of the players on the ground, especially the movements of the poultry mobile vans, just to ensure that those found on the road and trading centres have the requisite permits,” the report reads.
The restriction sought to address anti-competitive and unfair trade practices allegedly displayed by most of the large poultry producers who have been engaged in the distribution and selling of live poultry in trading centres and other undesignated areas.
The Ministry of Trade started issuing distributors’ licences to poultry distributors and travelling wholesalers’ licences to the large poultry producers to allow them to deliver their products to designated market places and appointed distributors in designated points throughout the country.
Justin Mkweu is a fast growing reporter who currently works with Times Group on the business desk.
He is however flexible as he also writes about current affairs and national issues.
