Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000)12. Meat Safety schemes |
| 1) | The Minister may by notice in the Gazette establish a scheme for the improvement of meat safety and safety of animal products. |
| 2) |
| a) | The Minister may under subsection (1) establish different schemes in respect of different kinds of animals and different categories of persons. |
| b) | The Minister may make any scheme applicable to the whole of the Republic or to different areas of the Republic, or to a particular province or specified part thereof. |
| 3) | A scheme may be established for- |
| a) | the enhancement of meat safety practices; |
| b) | the conducting of surveys; |
| c) | training in aspects of meat safety and safety of animal products; |
| d) | investigations into food-borne diseases; |
| e) | the promotion of hygiene practices; |
| f) | the determination of the origin of meat and animal products; |
| g) | the monitoring of residues on meat and animal products; |
| h) | the availability of and access to meat hygiene services; |
| i) | hygiene assessment services; or |
| j) | any other matter which is necessary or expedient to achieve and promote the objectives of this Act. |
| 4) | A notice contemplated in subsection (1) must- |
| a) | set out the objectives of the scheme; |
| b) | set out the kinds of animals and classes of persons to, and the areas in, which the scheme applies; |
| c) | determine the tests to which animals and the meat and animal products obtained therefrom must be subjected in order to determine the extent of compliance with the objectives of the scheme; |
| d) | describe the manner of interpreting the tests contemplated in paragraph (c); |
| e) | describe the manner in which the animals must be treated, kept and cared for and the manner in which meat and animal products may be disposed of; |
| f) | determine the requirements for participation in a scheme; |
| g) | describe the manner in which a person intending to participate in a scheme must apply for admission, the particulars to be furnished in an application and the circumstances under which an application may be refused; |
| h) | determine the manner in which a person may participate in a scheme; |
| i) | determine the kinds of animals, the types of meat and the types of animal products to which a scheme applies; |
| j) | determine the circumstances under which the participation lapses or may be cancelled; |
| k) | specify the particulars to be recorded by persons enrolled in a scheme; |
| l) | determine the facilities to be provided by a person participating in a scheme for the purpose of the performance of the required tests, or for any other act necessary to promote the objectives of a scheme; |
| m) | specify the marks with which animals, meat and animal products to which a scheme applies must be marked; |
| n) | determine the manner in which animals, carcasses, meat and animal products that comply with the requirements of a scheme must be certified, restrictions on the use of such a certificate and the circumstances under which such a certificate lapses; |
| o) | determine the circumstances Under which a scheme applies to a specific category of persons, in a specific area or to a specific abattoir, and specify the requirements which must be complied with; |
| p) | determine which of the provisions of a scheme bind a person who is enrolled for participation therein; |
| q) | specify the tariffs for services rendered in terms of a scheme; |
| r) | determine other functions to be performed by the respective persons or officers in terms of a scheme; and |
| s) | provide for any other matter which may be necessary or expedient to promote the objectives of the scheme. |
| 5) | The Minister may, after consultation with the MEC of a province, by notice in the Gazette declare that participation in a particular scheme is compulsory in the province in question, or in a specified part thereof. |
| 6) | A scheme in terms of which any form of monetary assistance may be rendered to participants by the national government may only be established with the approval of the Minister of Finance. |