Abattoir owners in the North West province have been urged by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Boitumelo Tshwene to encourage and support their counterparts who are still new in the meat industry, to ensure that they also reach the standard as set out in the Abattoir Hygiene Rating Scheme (AHRS).
MEC Tshwene made this appeal during the Abattoir Hygiene Rating Scheme awards ceremony that was held recently at Bona Bona Game Lodge, west of Klerksdorp. These annual awards are targeted at standardising and promoting compliance with the Meat Safety Act and its regulations. In doing so, all abattoirs are inspected at prescribed intervals by the department’s Veterinary Public Health officers using the Hygiene Assessment System (HAS).
Addressing about two hundred people who attended the award ceremony, MEC Tshwene said by exposing these upcoming abattoir entrepreneurs to the competitive advantages of aligning their operations to the AHRS high standards, the possibilities of successfully dealing with food-borne illnesses will be increased.
“We certainly have an interest as government to have the upcoming entrepreneurs also participating in this scheme. Let us work towards calling on those still outside this scheme to join us. Together with you, we need to be bold and do our part in realising this vision”, emphasised MEC Tshwene.
Out of the twenty abattoirs which participated in the assessment rating scheme, eleven were for poultry and nine were in the red meat category.
The winners, who according to the assessment system are in compliance with the prescripts of the Meat Safety Act 40 of 2000 were announced as follows:
The Mahikeng Supreme Poultry scooped the first position for the Poultry category, and was followed by Tigane Supreme Poultry and Rustenburg Rainbow Chicken as position two and three holders respectively.
The Meat category first position was grabbed by Rustenburg Marico Meats, with Kessler Meats from Brits and Klerksdorp Silver Blade coming second and third respectively.
Congratulating the winners and all scheme participants, MEC Tshwene said the recognition bestowed upon these abattoirs confirms that meat and meat products from these abattoirs are of high quality and that the hygiene standard is not being compromised.
“We are hopeful that the standard set by all previous and current winners will be reached by others, and that this noble cause of promoting good health of our communities, will be sustained”, stated MEC Boitumelo Tshwene.
Contact person:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
