24 October 2006
To further promote the objective of ensuring that abattoirs and butcheries
sell only wholesome meat and meat products to the public, the Gauteng
Provincial Government will honour compliant abattoirs today.
The Abattoir Hygiene Rating Scheme (AHRS), which was initiated in Gauteng in
2003, seeks to ensure more stringent compliance with meat safety legislation.
Since its inception the success of the project has been so impressive that
steps are now underway to enlist butcheries to also participate in this rating
scheme. At its inception only 39 red meat and 36 poultry abattoirs
participated. By 2005 63 red meat and 47 poultry abattoirs had volunteered for
the stringent hygiene standards examination and ratings.
Participation in the AHRS is voluntary and is aimed at ensuring the selling
and consumption of safe and sufficiently hygienic meat products. The scheme,
especially at a time when animal diseases suddenly break out and spread
rapidly, is a highly prized project that closely coincides with the Gauteng
Provincial Government's strategic objective of further developing healthy and
productive people.
The scheme also allows participants to attract more customers, and thereby
increase their profit margins.
In addition to the continuous monitoring of abattoirs in the province,
officials of the department use a Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) to audit
abattoirs who wish to participate in the scheme. The HAS, an objective and
science based system, objectively assesses the hygiene and animal welfare
status of all registered abattoirs.
The gala evening to honour compliant participants will take place as
follows:
Date: 24 October 2006
Time: 17h00
Venue: University of Pretoria (Mamelodi campus), Mamelodi, Tshwane
Enquiries:
Sizwe Matshikiza
Tel: (011) 355 1316
Cell: 082 778 9996
Issued by: Department Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
24 October 2006
