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Cape Town - South Africans don't need to worry about meat from the European Union (EU), assured industry producers in the wake of a rotten meat scandal uncovered in Brazil.
"South Africans can find comfort in the knowledge that the imported meat they receive and consume from Europe undergoes stringent and traceable process to guarantee its safety and high quality standard," it said in a statement.
From farm to fork
The EU’s “farm to fork” concept drives this process. It explained that the "from farm to fork” concept involves many elements that have a positive impact on the safety of food at each stage of the food production chain, starting from farms to consumers’ tables.
Brazil, which is the world’s largest beef and chicken exporter, announced that they’re investigating evidence that producers bribed government officials to approve the sale and export of tainted meat.
It is alleged that in some cases acid was used to mask the smell of spoilt meat, according to Bloomberg.
South Africa suspended Brazil meat imports, as have many other countries around the world, but has yet to say whether any tainted meat has been discovered.
"It is not known how many consignments may have already left Brazil and are on their way to South Africa, however, DAFF (department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries) is in the process of ensuring that the establishments implicated are suspended from exporting meat to South Africa until the Brazilian Veterinary Authority have fully investigated the matter and can give the necessary assurances for compliance to the South African requirements for importation of meat into South Africa," it said last week.
Lessons for consumers
This meat scandal serves as a reminder to South Africa consumers that they should insist on knowing the origin and contents of the meat they purchase, said Leana Engelbrecht from Baker McKenzie.
EU meat industry producers maintain that they are taking their shared responsibility for food safety very seriously amid global concerns around the quality of imported meat and the processes involved for quality assurance.
It explained that in practice, the “farm to fork” concept is carried out through an effective system of identification of suppliers of raw materials, feeds and farm animals.
"One of the most important elements of this concept is the identification of sources of risk through the system of tracking and tracing of the origin of food."
A crucial part of the "from farm to fork" concept is communication throughout the stages of the food production chain. This communication must go in two directions, ensuring the fluidity of data from all parties: e.g. from farms that undergo inspections carried out by veterinary physicians, and in the opposite direction.
One-step-backward, one-step-forward
"This is known as ‘one-step-backward, one-step-forward’ and allows for full traceability of pork, beef and their allied products. It also enables tracking and tracing of the origin of pork and beef and to obtain information that traces the shipment history of a given raw material."
Monitoring and traceability of animal feeds
The obligation to track and trace the origin of food and animal feeds (traceability) in the European Union stems directly from the regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Introduction and application of traceability system in the UE is a legal requirement. General principles and basic requirements concerning creation and implementation of the traceability system. The system guarantees the flow of information in the whole food production chain.
Its scope covers the origin of raw materials, history of processing and distribution of the analysed food. In practice, it means that each batch of animal feed on the territory of the EU is fully traceable, and the documentation from the transport of feed, from the place of its production to the farm where animals are bred, is kept.
"Use of attested animal feeds together with prohibited use of antibiotics, growth hormones and other growth stimulants guarantee that consumers are provided with completely safe pork, beef and related products manufactured in the EU."
Traceability of animal breeding
In order to ensure the link between individual processing stages within the supply chain, animals are given unique identification numbers from birth. Identification ear tags, computer databases, animal passports and individual registers at every farm form part of the cattle and swine registration and identification system. These methods allow tracking and tracing the origin of pork and beef within the supply chain.
Traceability of production of animal origin food
Among many rules present in "from farm to forks" concept, special attention is paid to veterinary control over the slaughter process.
"Each head of cattle or swine is examined, guaranteeing that meat comes from a healthy animal and allowing for effective monitoring the production process. The policy also covers distribution and labelling of pork, beef and similar products," it said.
"Lack of interruption of the cold chain must be confirmed with a note in the report concerning the given batch of products. Product labelling enables its full traceability and includes details on the type of meat, producer, batch number and the use by date."
EU producers of pork and beef says they have implemented specific rules on all stages of the food production chain, starting at the primary production stage and finishing at the final consumer stage.
"By working in line with this concept, they are able to guarantee full safety of products they make."
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