The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies announced the meat labelling regulations that will be gazetted this coming Friday, 25 October 2013. Minister Davies was speaking at the Eat Well, Eat Safe, Eat South African campaign that was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in collaboration with the South African Fruit & Vegetable Canners Association (SAFVCA) and Proudly South Africa at the Vangate Mall, Cape Town earlier today.
Davies said that the meat labelling regulations are in line with the Consumer Protection Act.
“Section 29 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) sets out the general standards for marketing goods and services and stipulates that parties in the supply chain must not market any goods or services in a manner that is likely to imply a false or misleading representation about them,” he said.
According to Minister Davies, consumers have every right to be informed of the ingredients contained in food products so that they may make informed choices and failure to do so by any party in the supply chain would constitute a breach of the CPA.
He added that government and the private sector are on a crusade to ensure that the food processing sector grows and becomes globally competitive. The Eat Well, Eat Safe Eat South African campaign is part of the process of creating a competitive industry and creating the link between small and big businesses.
“There is an opportunity for the industry to reposition itself with locally produced food and healthy products,” said Minister Davies.
With the introduction of the industry regulations, manufacturers and producers need to jump in, produce and sell healthy products.
“The agricultural sector creates a large number of jobs and it has to introduce new ways of presenting South African products, which are healthy and affordable to the public,” added Minister Davies.
Minister Davies noted that there is a need to educate the public about buying locally produced and healthy food products. The MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Western Cape, Mr Gerrit van Rensburg said that South Africa needs more young people in the agriculture sector. Van Rensburg described the sector as one of the sectors having lots of career opportunities.
He indicated that the country needs healthy leaders and citizens who will take the country to the next level.
“These are the more reasons why we need to support the campaign at all levels,” he added.
The Rhodes Foods group launched their new products that are part of their exercise to revitalize the canning industry in South Africa. The products include various permutations of fruit cocktails, jams and vegetables. These are in easy to open lids, and do not require a tin opener like the traditional canned products. Rhodes Foods group, Tiger Brands, Boland Pulb, Olive Company, exhibited their product range to the public.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
