Consultative process on the meat inspection service at abattoirs in South Africa

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) will today commence with a series of stakeholder consultative meetings on the proposed Meat Inspection Service.

Meat inspection service by suitably qualified and skilled personnel in red-meat and poultry abattoirs is considered to be one of the essential elements of ensuring that the meat sold to the public is safe and wholesome.

In South Africa, legislation dealing with meat inspection has undergone various changes. In particular, meat inspection service legislation has, for a long time, mandated the government to directly provide the meat inspection service. This was achieved to direct government employment of meat inspectors either via the national government or local/municipal governments.

However, the Meat Inspection Service was completely privatised just prior to 1994 in line with the changing socio-economic and political environment at the time. In view of the operational challenges immediately experienced, legislation was reviewed by the new democratic government in 2000 in order to enable both government and the private sector to play a meaningful and vital role in providing a Meat Inspection Service, a system which currently exists.

Challenges continue to persist in the current system, especially with regard to technical independence and impartiality. This is of particular concern where commercial interests compete with the principles of food safety.

In response to concerns raised by consumers and stakeholders in the meat industry, DAFF has again embarked on a consultative process in order to re-assess and strengthen the meat inspection service at abattoirs and to ensure that the service remains impartial, science-based and on par with global trends in risk-based food safety management practices.

A report on the Proposal for Meat Inspection Service in South Africa has been produced and was published in the Government Gazette for public to comment on 4 January 2013.  

Currently, the department is embarking on a process of intergovernmental and industry consultation on this matter.

Stakeholders and role players in meat production, distribution and sale, such as abattoir owners/associations, meat traders, meat importers and exporters, meat inspection service providers, interested parties and the general public are invited to attend consultation workshops which will be held across the country as per the schedule below: 

NB: At all meetings: registration is at 08:30; meetings will start at 09:00 and should end before 15:00.  The programme will be available at the meetings.

For further information on the consultation process and public meetings, members of the public may contact Johan du Preez at 012 319 7572/084 590 5003/JohanDP@daff.gov.za or any of the persons indicated in respective provinces.

For media enquiries please contact:
Lionel Adendorf
Tel: 021 402 3702
Mobile:  076 267 5838
E-mail: LionelA@daff.gov.za