Ms Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development, got down to business yesterday by visiting the abattoir industry in and around Gauteng.
Chalmar Beef and Earlybird farm, a part of Astral holdings, were blessed by her presence. These visits are a departmental effort to introduce and familiarise the MEC to the industry and stakeholders.
MEC walkabouts will be regular to the industry as she wants to assure the community of Gauteng that the meat consumed is of high standard. She also wants to ensure the industry upholds the hygienic and consumable standards of meat supply aspects set by Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) Veterinary Services.
A group of veterinary public health doctors led the MEC around, to experience first hand the processes of producing red meat. The process includes monitoring and compliance to the meat safety act no.40 of 2000, to ensure the meat is safe and wholesome for consumption.
The Chalmar Beef abattoir, which was visited by the MEC, started in 1969 with four cows; today it employs 120 permanent staff. Chalmar Beef prides itself on promoting hygiene standards. Constant staff training on hygiene standards guarantees the safety of the meat.
According to Chalmar Beef management the equipment they use is among the best in the province, as they have won the Nama Phepha award for adhering to regulations.
MEC also visited Earlybird, which started in 1974 as a small butchery in the centre of Johannesburg. Earlybird prides itself on slaughtering more than a million chickens each week. The company produces frozen and unfrozen chicken. They employ 3 500 people working two shifts a day.
According to Earlybird chicken production is a challenging and congested sector, involving feed which is 60 percent of the cost of production and water for cleaning and hygiene purposes. The culture to maintain and sustain the rules and regulations of the GDARD Veterinary Services gave the company a four-star rating. To strengthen the hygienic standards, Earlybird has employed two in-house and independent auditors.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
17 July 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za/)
