DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
JOINT BRIEFING BY DAFF,DOH and
DTI ON MEAT INSPECTION AND
LABELING IN SA
Venue: Committee Room M46, Ground
Floor Marks Building Hall, Cape Town
26 March 2013
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Outline
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Roles and mandates
Enabling legislative framework
Role of municipal health services
Current challenges
Possible solutions
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Food Control
World Health Organisation (WHO)
DEFINITION
“A mandatory regulatory activity of enforcement by
national, provincial or local authorities to provide
consumer protection and ensure that all foods
during production, handling, storage, processing
and distribution are safe, wholesome and fit for
human consumption; conform to quality and safety
requirements; and are honestly and accurately
labeled as prescribed by law”
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Food Safety and Food Contamination
FOOD SAFETY (WHO)
“Assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer
when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use”
FOOD CONTAMINANT (WHO)
“Any biological or chemical agent, foreign matter, or other
substance not intentionally added to the food which may
compromise food safety or suitability”
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Role of Health Sector
• National Department of Health
Policy, legislation, guidance,I ncluding norms
and standards, international liaison (excluding
abattoirs and import/export of fresh meat)
• Provincial Departments of Health
Food import control (excluding unprocessed
meat)
Coordination of activities of local authorities
• Local Authorities
Enforcement in areas of jurisdiction
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What Are The Key Enabling Pieces ofF
Legislation
• Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and
Disinfectants Act,1972
(Act No. 54 of 1972)
• National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61
of 2003)
• Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act
No. 117 of 1998)
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Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and
Disinfectants Act
Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act,1972
(Act no. 54 of 1972)
Provides for description of all foodstuffs in terms of the
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Origin
Nature
Substance
Composition
Quality
Strength
Nutritive value
Time, mode or place of manufacture
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Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and
Disinfectants Act cont.
• Section 23 of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics
and Disinfectants Act provides for the
Minister of Health to authorise any local
authority by notice in the Gazette to
enforce within its area of jurisdiction
and through its duly authorized officers,
such provisions of this Act as the
Minister may specify in the notice
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Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and
Disinfectants Act cont.
• Regulations on labelling and advertising of
foodstuffs (No. R.146 of 1 March 2010) came into
effect in 2012
• Provide for Compulsory Quantitative Ingredient
Declaration (QUID) for raw-processed meat and
processed meat {Reg 26(2)}
• Disclosure of common allergens, uncommon
allergens on request by a consumer or inspector
of the DoH and risk of allergen cross contamination mandatory (Reg 43,44 & 45)
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Foodstuffs Cosmetics and
Disinfectants Act cont.
Regulations Governing the Composition and
Labelling of Raw Boerewors, Raw Species Sausage
and Raw Mixed-Species Sausage
• Maximum meat content
• Maximum fat content
• No offal (except casing)
• No mechanically recovered meat (MRM)
• Maximum calcium contents
• Limit on other ingredients
• Specific labeling requirements
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National Health Act
The National Health Act,2003 (Act No. 61 of
2003)
• Lists and defines functions of municipal health
Services which include Food Control
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Roles and Responsibilities of Environmental Health
at Local Government.
 Local Government
– Delivery of Municipal Health Services
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In terms of Section 1 of the National Health Act, 2003, (Act 61
of 2003) Municipal Health Services refer to:
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Water Quality Monitoring
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Food Control
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Waste Management
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Health Surveillance of Premises
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Surveillance and Prevention of Contagious Diseases, excluding
Immunization
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ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
 Local Government
– Municipal Health Services
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In terms of Section 1 of the National Health Act, 2003, (Act 61
of 2003) Municipal Health Services refer to:
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Vector Control
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Environmental Pollution Control
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Disposal of the Dead, and
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Safe Handling of Chemical Substances
but excludes Port Health, Malaria Control and control of
Hazardous Substances (Provincial function)
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ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
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How did the services end up with Local Government?
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Municipal Health Services (MHS) were devolved from the provinces to
district and metro municipalities
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Devolution was guided by the municipality showing capacity to deliver the
services (done in line with Municipal Systems Act)
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How are municipalities expected to deliver the devolved services?
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National Department of Health prepared the budget bid for the delivery of
MHS even post devolution
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National Department of Health developed guidelines for the devolution of
these services
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Food Control (as part of MHS)
• According to the scope of practice for Environmental
Health Practitioners (EHPs), the function ensures
consumer protection by the following:
– Food inspections at point of production, storage, distribution and
consumption (The whole value chain)
– Regulation of food premises (formal & informal) regarding hygiene
and the prevention of nuisances through regular inspections
– Control of food premises by issuing Compliance Certificates to food
premises promulgated in terms of the FCD Act.
– Ensure that food is safe and healthy for human consumption by
enforcement of relevant legislation
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FOOD CONTROL (as part of MHS)
• Regulations Relating to Inspections and
Investigations (R. 328 of April 2007)
• Inspection powers – may demand document,
information, examine foodstuff, take sample
• Detention of foods – written order to detain
food, lock premises
• Seizure of food – written order if food appears to
be unsound, unwholesome or contaminated
• Rectifying of certain conditions
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FOOD CONTROL (as part of MHS)
• One of the methods to determine suitability of
food is by:
– Taking samples randomly and sending them to
laboratory for test
• National Laboratory Health Services or in-house testing (by
some metros) is used
– Microbiological Analysis
– Chemical Analysis
– Inspection of foodstuff to check on the labelling
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OFFER,
LABEL, SEAL
Sample
Laboratory
Analysis
Negative
Annex B
Written
Notification
Lift Detention
Order
Positive
Annex A
Detain (Food
not visibly unfit)
Food visibly
unfit
Regulations Relating to the
Inspection/Sampling of Food
Premises and Foodstuffs
R.328 of 2007
Seize
Condemn
Destroy
Annex C
Annex D
Annex E
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Co-ordination and collaboration
• The NDoH and DAFF have held a number of
collaborative meetings to track where
legitimately imported horse meat ends in the
food chain. Gauteng municipalities and METROs
were also involved. Samples have been sent for
laboratory testing
• Work is underway with the National Consumer
Council to respond to their request to develop a
profile of the industry and ascertain the capacity
to sample and test samples
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Current Challenges
• Not all provinces have finished devolution of MHS
• MHS budget is not easily identifiable as a budget line item
from the equitable share of the municipalities
• Prioritisation of activities is not easy to monitor
• The whole function of food control is fragmented with a
multiplicity of players resulting in overlaps and gaps. Coordination and efficient use of resources becomes
challenging.
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Possible Solutions
• Introduction of memoranda of agreements amongst role players
• Analysis and streamlining of roles and functions
• Analysis and alignment of resources (funds, expertise, numbers of
personnel, laboratory support etc.) related to monitoring activities
• Strengthening of enforcement capacity
• A risk – based approach in prioritisation of activities and monitoring
thereof
• The possibility of establishing a Food Agency should be explored
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Thank you
www.doh.gov.za
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