DAFF PRESENTATION TO THE JOINT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND

FISHERIES (DAFF), DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DoH) AND DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI)

02-03 FEBRUARY 2016

Roles and responsibilities of DAFF in food safety administration

Purpose To provide the Honorable Members with the background on role and

responsibilities on food safety with specific focus on:

The legislative matrix in food safety;

Meat Safety Act;

Agricultural Product Standard Act;

Importation of food of animal origin

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With specific emphasis on domestic controls

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South African Food Control System

DAFFExport of agricultural

products

Registration of pesticides & stock

remedies

Meat Hygiene, Import & Export of fresh meat and animal

products etc

SPS Enquiry Point

Department of Health-DoH

Import, Manufacture, Sale & Export (“Processed Products”)

“ Domestic Food Safety Regulations”

Registration of medicines

Nutritional Labelling

CODEX Contact PointINFOSAN Emergency

Contact PointRASFF Contact Point

Agency for Department of

Trade and Industry (DTI) -

NRCSCanned and

frozen fish/productsFresh seafood

Canned meat products (>10%)

Imports & Certification of

exportsTBT Enquiry Point

(SABS)

PPECBProvinces

Provinces &Municipalities

Departments/ Institutions responsible for the regulation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) matters in South Africa

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DAFF LEGISLATIVE MANDATE

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ANIMAL DISEASE ACT

Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984) - DAFF Regulates on-farm disease control and health of the animals

Directorate: Animal HealthSets norms and standards for Animal HealthNegotiates import/ export certificatesSet import requirements Provide animal disease surveillance and reporting with

collaboration from other Livestock industry stakeholders

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MEAT SAFETY ACT Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act 40 of 2000) - DAFF

Regulates the slaughter of animals at abattoirs to ensure that only healthy animals are slaughtered and are handled in hygienic manner -

Directorate: Veterinary Public HealthProvides oversight on compliance of abattoirs with essential

national standard in collaboration with ProvincesSet norms and standards for the imports and export of animal

productsRegulate and promote meat safety and the safety of animal

productsManages the national microbial & residue monitoring programme

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AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT

Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act 119 of 1990)

Regulates marketing of certain agricultural productsThe objective of the APS Act – ensure that quality standards are applied in order to provide for: Consumer confidence; and Fair trade practices. Criteria used are: Classification/grading based on a number of measurable factors,

e.g. identification of a carcass, age of a carcass, fatness, etc. Labelling/ marking to provide the consumer with accurate and

relevant information on a product.

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Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947

Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Regulate or prohibit the importation, sale, acquisition, disposal or use of fertilizers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies; to provide for the designation of technical advisers and analysts; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No 36 of 1947)

Regulate the importation, sale, acquisition, disposal or use of fertilizers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies; to provide for the designation of technical advisers and analysts; and to provide for matters incidental thereto. Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No 36 of 1947)

Regulate the importation, sale, acquisition, disposal or use of fertilizers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies; to provide for the designation of technical advisers and analysts; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

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Role of DAFF in the importation of food of animal origin A prospective importer must apply and obtain Import Permit issued by

DAFF prior to such importation

Import permit specifically determines the specie (quantities at times), sanitary and other conditions that shall be complied with

The importer provides the Veterinary Authorities of the country of origin of animal products with import permit issued by South African Authorities

For each consignment, the Veterinary Authorities of the country of origin issue Veterinary Certificate declaring that ALL requirements & conditions imposed by South Africa have been met & the product is safe

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Procedures for the importation of food of animal origin At the Port of Entry in South Africa, DAFF Veterinarians

Detain all consignments with animal products at approved inspection sites

Evaluate the initial import permit issued by DAFF Evaluate the original Veterinary Certificate issued by Veterinary Authority

of the Country of origin Inspect each consignment for compliance and verification Release the consignment to the importer or take decisions based on their

evaluation of documentation or consignment (return or destroy) Once released to the importer – the consignment assumes the status of

“domestic food” and is regulated by statues governing all local foods –

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Legislations involved in Food Safety and different Departmentsplaying a role

Health Act, 1977 (Act 63 of 1977) – Department of Health (DoH)

Replaced by the National Health Act, 2003 (Act of 2003)

Regulates hygiene requirements for transportation and premises handling

food

Foodstuffs, Cosmetics Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) DoH

Regulate food ingredients, additives and labeling

Regulates hygiene requirements for transportation and premises handling

food (R962 of the 23rd Nov 2012)

Regulates maximum limits for veterinary medicine and stock remedy

residues that may be present in foodstuffs (R1809)

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Department of Health (DoH): Statutory responsibility of Provinces and Municipalities on Food Control

IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS: National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003): Monitoring of Imported foodstuffs the responsibility of the Port Health Services of the 9 provinces.Foodstuff, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972): (DoH) control of imported foodstuffs, delegated to national Director: Food Control.

LOCAL FOODSTUFFS: National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003): Municipality Health services (MHS) of the 8 Metro’s (MM’s) and 44 district municipalities (DM’s) in respect of monitoring of foodstuffs produced, manufactured and sold locally.FCD Act (Act 54 of 1972): MM’s and DM’s authorised by the Minister in terms of Section 23. Once the meat leaves the abattoirs under the control of DAFF, it enters the

custody of the other statues/ Departments (DoH)Butcheries, local meat processing plants, retailers are not regulated by

Agriculture and DAFF does not have inspectors in these facilities

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Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)

Enforces Compulsory Specifications for canned meat & frozen/canned fish and fishery products and canned meat. Exercises import/export control over these products

Legal Metrology - responsible for regulations that fall under the Legal Metrology Act.

Consumer Protection Act No. 68 of 2008. National Consumer Commission (NCC) is established in terms of section 85 of the Consumer Protection Act No. 68 of 2008

SANAS- gives formal recognition that Laboratories, Certification Bodies, Inspection Bodies, Proficiency Testing Scheme Providers and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) test facilities are competent

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Thank you

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