New regulations for
processed meat

SA – New regulations to protect the South African consumer against health and safety risks posed by the production of processed meat products will come into effect next month.

During the period from mid-2017 to March 2018, the outbreak of listeriosis from contaminated processed food resulted in the deaths of several people as well as the closure of processing plants. The new regulations are intended to enable inspection of processing plants in order to avoid a similar tragedy. 

This agreement is between the Departments of Trade and Industry (the DTI) and Health (DOH) on the final publication of the Compulsory Specification for Processed Meat Products (VC 9100). The new regulations will be enforced by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), an entity reporting to the DTI. 

After extensive stakeholder consultations, the final compulsory specification for processed meat products was gazetted on 8 August to come into force two months from the date of publication.

The aim of this compulsory specification is to effectively regulate those categories of processed meat products that are considered as high risk, in order to protect the health and safety of consumers.

The DTI will work with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to coordinate the enforcement of the new regulations in terms of the agricultural product standards act.

This will enable government and industry to detect any food borne pathogens early. 
DTI minister Ebrahim Patel said:

“This is an important step in ensuring that consumers are protected against harmful food-borne bacteria. Our food industry is important to the country’s economic development and job creation.”

Department of Trade and Industry press release extracts, 30 September 2019