Vetnuus | June 2024 37 • Hygiene and sanitation standards for the facilities and the employees working there. • Monitoring and detecting residues of specified substances in meat and meat products. • Compliance and enforcement through regular inspections. Further Food Safety Legislation There are several other acts that deals with different aspects of food safety. These are: • Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972). The manufacture, sale, and labeling of foodstuffs are regulated by this act, including red meat, poultry, and dairy products. • Agricultural Product Standards Act (Act 119 of 1990) sets standards for the quality, grading, and labeling of agricultural products, including red meat, poultry, and dairy products. • Health Act (Act 63 of 1977) focuses on public health and amongst other things regulates food safety and hygiene. It empowers health authorities to inspect food premises, investigate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, and enforce food safety standards. • National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008) primarily focuses on waste management, but it includes provisions related to food safety, specifically related to the prevention of contamination of water and food sources. • Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965) that regulates or prohibits the use of certain medicines in production animals that may adversely affect human health. Residue Monitoring and Antimicrobial Stewardship Prevention of drug- and other chemical residues is a critical aspect of food safety. Veterinarians must ensure proper withdrawal times for the relevant medicines to ensure safe food products for human use. Antimicrobial resistance is a major international health challenge. The judicious use of antimicrobials in animals is an essential tool in combating antimicrobial resistance. Apart from the Meat Safety Act that has already been mentioned, other important legislation to consider in this regard includes the Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965), the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies, and Stock Remedies Act (Act 36 of 1947), as well as the Rules Relating to the Practising of Veterinary Professions published in terms of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act (Act No 19 of 1982). The Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, the South African Veterinary Council, and other private role players collaborate to ensure responsible antimicrobial use. The “Guidelines on Implementation of the Antimicrobial Strategy in South Africa: One Health Approach and Governance” has been created and are also relevant to the animal health industry and veterinarians. Conclusion There is a complex legal framework that regulates food safety for human consumption in South Africa. Production animal veterinarians and state veterinarians must ensure that they are familiar with the legislation relevant to the industries that they serve. Effective control and insurance of food safety of animal products rely heavily on the veterinary profession. v If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: trudie@legalvetservices.co.za Legal Mews
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