Portfolio Committee Meeting RMIF AND W OOL G ROWERS 23 O CTOBER 2012

Purpose To update the PC on the developments and progress on issues raised by the RMIF in September 2011 Focus on:  Meat Safety Act  Animal Diseases Act  Act 36  Other matters  Woolgrowers matters 2

Meat Safety Act  Registration of abattoirs In terms of section 8 all slaughter facilities must be registered by the NEO 3

Meat Safety Act  Independent meat inspection  With the requirement of independence, the Meat Safety Act has introduced a new concept and possibility of utilizing National Executive Officer (NEO)/ Provincial Executive Officer (PEO)/ Assignee/ Authorized person to ensure independent meat inspections at abattoirs.  In a consultative process between 2007 and 2010, the industry proposed that a single industry created assignee shall be appointed, also proposed a system whereby abattoirs will do all financial transactions relating to meat inspections through a Section 21 Company and not directly with the assignee or its service provider.  Unfortunately, some provinces objected to a single assignee model; this necessitated that a consultative process shall be re-opened. 4

Animal Disease Act  FMD Status The dossier applying to the OIE for the official status of FMD was submitted to the OIE in Sept. the Departments awaits feedback from the OIE.  South Africa’s import policy Following the court order of January 2010, the Department concluded the process and the notice was published in the Government Gazette  Quarantine stations The approved private quarantine stations are under DAFF’s control and are not posing a danger to the general animal population. 5

Animal Disease Act  Importation Very few cases that are reported to DAFF are substantiated resulting in ‘wild goose chase’ by DAFF.  Fences PC Visit to North KZN 6

Act 36  Fertilizer and Feed Bill  The bill still has to go through the Parliamentary process  The issues of concern from the RMIF are only from the feedlot association and cannot be supported by other members 7

Other matters  Grazing permits  Permits were stopped shortly after the RMF complaint. No further grazing permits have been issued but animals are being ‘imported’ for slaughter and other purposes.  Animal Health requirements are the same  Loss of export status  Residue Monitoring plan  Traceability  Disease situation  Voluntary exclusion 8

Other matters  Namibian Small Stock Marketing Scheme The issue has been taken up on a bilateral level and the DAFF DG has written to the dti DG requesting their intervention  Dispute settlement measures These measures are outlined in the relevant Acts and the RMIF uses the routes stipulated. 9

Woolgrowers Matters  MOU  Predator management The former DG pledged an amount of R 1.4 million for predator management research and this needs to be sourced  shearer competition A MOU to support the annual international shearer competition and well as local competitions has been finalised – this will hopefully provide R per year for three years for this important activity  Other funds  Shearer sheds  National wool recording and improvement scheme  Rams 10

Thank you