The grocery retail sector inquiry launched last year by the Competition Commission was very significant and could address issues of food prices and market access, the economic development minister said.

South Africa is allowing sales of American chicken, pork and beef products throughout the country, meeting benchmarks for resolving a 15-year trade dispute with the United States, Washington's top trade official said.

The Competition Commission on Thursday announced the appointment of a panel for the grocery retail sector market inquiry which is due to tackle the exclusivity of lease agreements at shopping malls — a battle being fought largely among big retail chains.

Poultry industry players say the United States is using the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), and its favourable market access by sub-Saharan countries, to force the hand of South Africa in a dispute over chicken imports amid concerns about health standards.

The Shoprite Group has raised concern that the price benefit of the recently approved chicken imports from the USA which will be free of anti-dumping duties will not reach consumers.

The Irish government yesterday laid out plans to introduce minimum alcohol pricing in a bid to reduce the country’s high drinking levels.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies on Thursday gave his official go-ahead for the annual importation of 65,000 tonnes of US bone-in chicken portions free of antidumping duties.

Retailer Masstores‚ trading as Game‚ failed in its bid to overturn a high court judgment which prevented it from interfering with a contractual relationship that another retailer Pick n Pay entered into with its landlord.

South Africa has signed an agreement with the US to resume the import of 65 000 t/y of chicken, which had become bogged down over health concerns, the government said.