Twenty (20) high throughput abattoirs that have been part of the hygiene assessment carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Veterinary Public Health officials will on Tuesday, 27 November 2012, be acknowledged for improving and maintaining meat safety standards. In addition, rural abattoirs that are classified as emerging will also be given special awards. The awarding ceremony will be held at Orion Safari Hotel in Rustenburg.
This the Department does in an effort to ensure that abattoirs in the province comply with the requirements as set out in the Meat Safety Act and its regulations.
Of the 20 participating abattoirs, eleven (11) are in Poultry while nine (9) are in the Red Meat industry. These abattoirs are assessed on a quarterly basis under the Abattoir Hygiene Rating Scheme (AHRS), which uses a nationally designed checklist and the Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) for standardisation of the audits.
The Meat Safety Act 40 of 2000 dictates that all abattoirs be monitored on regular basis by the Veterinary Public Health officials authorized by the Provincial Executive Officer. It also provides for measures in promoting meat safety, safety of animal products and to establish and maintain essential national standards in respect of abattoirs.
The act is meant to ensure that abattoirs are suitable for slaughtering of animals and that the processes meet the minimum requirements and certify that the meat produced is safe for human consumption.
The MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono says the assessment and awarding exercises encourage competition among abattoirs, thus enhancing better performance and compliance.
“Those that have received the highest rating and met the highest standards of hygiene will receive trophies and certificates,” said Mohono adding that Special Awards will also be given to rural abattoirs whose owners are classified as emerging business people.
Rural abattoirs are not part of the AHRS audits because they are small in nature and have challenges in complying with the Meat Safety Act. Basic principles of food safety are used in assessing these abattoirs and only those that meet the minimum standards are allowed to operate.
The awarding of the provincial abattoirs has been held annually since 2009. Members of the media are invited to the ceremony which will start at 09h30
