09 November 2021
The South African government has condemned false reports that bananas have been imported from Somalia, that are contaminated with bacteria.
A statement issued today by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said that no bananas from Somalia have recently been imported to South Africa.
“The department said South Africa regulates plant imports and plant production in accordance with the Agricultural Pesticides Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983) and related regulations, which require that imported goods be subject to import inspection at the ports or, if in doubt, quarantine, ”the statement said.
The statement said the ministry was constantly on the lookout for food imports and that any products suspected of endangering or harming consumers or the environment would not be allowed to enter the Republic of South Africa
The news from South Africa comes as bananas imported from Somalia have been found on the internet, particularly on Twitter.