The North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development will on Thursday, 6 August 2009, award provincial abattoirs that have complied with the requirements as set out in the Meat Safety Act, at a ceremony to be held at the Grootbosch Lodge, Klerksdorp.
The Abattoir Hygiene Rating Scheme (AHRS) is intended to standardise and promote compliance with the Meat Safety Act 40 of 2000 and its regulations. The Act dictates that all abattoirs must be inspected at prescribed intervals by the veterinary public health officers.
“These awards are important in the veterinary public health calendar and through them,” says MEC Boitumelo Tshwene, “we are geared at encouraging a health driven competition among abattoirs in the province and we hope this annual competition will encourage all those involved in the industry to strive for perfection,” says MEC Tshwene.
Through the prescribed hygiene assessment system, a total of 21 abattoirs were assessed and inspected in two categories, poultry and red meat. All these abattoirs are classified under high throughput class, as defined in the Meat Safety Regulation.
Abattoirs will be awarded prizes based on their performance in the abattoir hygiene rating scheme during the event planned as follows:
Date: Thursday, 6 August 2009
Venue: Grootbosch Lodge (35 km west of Klerksdorp on the N12 to Wolmaranstad)
Time: 10h00
Members of the media are invited.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
3 August 2009
