MEC Joemat-Pettersson hails
dividends of meat safety regulations
The Northern Cape's MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform Tina Joemat-Pettersson has vowed to enhance her meat safety
campaign amid the approval of the Red Meat Regulations of the Meat Safety Act
by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms. Thoko
Didiza. The MEC said the introduction of the
regulations have created a Œpositive vibe¹ within the
red meat industry.
Ten (10) abattoirs are being upgraded at a cost of over 30
million rand. The post-upgrading phase would also spark the creation of an
estimated 7 hundred permanent jobs. This is indeed the Œbeauty
of the holistic consultative approach of the veterinary unit of the Department,
said the MEC.
The MEC said her future abattoir visitations would still be
focused on assuring the public that a safe and wholesome product is being
produced for consumption. She added that it still remains the prerogative of
the veterinary unit in approving the building plans of new abattoirs and their
upgrading.
The red meat regulations provide information about the
requirements and standards that abattoirs, as well as meat cutting plants must
adhere to. Adherence by abattoir owners would eliminate public fears about
health risks surrounding non-compliance. Information on the regulations can be
obtained from municipalities and veterinary offices. The Department has already
clamped down on a number of illegal abattoirs that have in some instances been
linked to stock theft and tax evasion. The success of the operation was
enhanced by the support of the South African Police Service's and the South
African Revenue Service office.
Meanwhile, the MEC is scheduled to address the Veterinary
Technical Congress that is to be held in Upington at the end of this month. The
Department¹s veterinary officials will be debating a range of issues concerning
food security, public health and animal welfare that are covered within the
Meat Safety Act. Export certification, disease control
and rating of abattoirs will also be up for discussion.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform
Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi; Tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za mobile: 083 255 8840