Independent Meat Inspection
Independent Meat Inspection
Meat Inspection aims to ensure that meat provided to the consumer is safe to eat.
Independent Meat Inspection takes place under the auspices of the Meat Safety Agency, 2000 (Act 40 of 2000); the Red Meat Regulations, Poultry Meat Regulations and the Independent Meat Inspection Scheme.
In terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act 40 of 2000), all meat inspection services must be conducted independently of abattoir. In relation to meat inspection, Section 11 of the Act stipulates the following:
- the owner of an abattoir must procure a meat inspection service for that abattoir;
- meat inspection services may only be performed by the national executive officer, a provincial executive officer, an authorised person or an assignee, who must perform that function independently from the abattoir;
- a person contemplated in the paragraph above must be a veterinarian, meat inspector, meat examiner, animal health technician or such other duly qualified person as may be prescribed.
Meat inspection is conducted at abattoirs and includes the performance of ante-mortem, primary and secondary meat inspections by registered inspectors or examiners who may be employed by an assignee and may include hygiene management and regulatory control as agreed on with the provincial executive officer for each abattoir and includes reporting of non-conformances to the provincial executive officer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find helpful information on meat inspection processes. Learn about the legislation that governs meat inspection, discover who is responsible for determining the number of inspection personnel, and find out if an abattoir can change its assigned inspectors. Our FAQ provides clear answers to these common queries to assist you with your food safety needs.
Who determines the number of inspection personnel required?
The Independent Meat Inspection scheme provides guidelines to personnel requirements at an abattoir. The PEO will approves the personnel allocation at an abattoir.
Can an abattoir change assignees?
Abattoirs can only change assignees with the approval of the relevant PEO with valid reasons. Non-payment or accounts in arrears is not a valid reason to change assignees.