Meat Safety Bill

Meeting report

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS
24 May 2000
MEAT SAFETY BILL

SUMMARY
The Portfolio Committee agreed that the Free State, North West Province, Kwazulu Natal and Mpumulanga would be visited on the 27-29 June by Portfolio Committee study groups. The study tours would look at issues relating to Land Evictions.

The committee continued deliberations on the Meat Safety Bill, going through clauses 8 to 11. The Democratic Party and New National Party did not agree to clause 11. They felt that the clause should make it necessary for the Minster to consult with interested and affected parties before making any exceptions to National Standards. The rest of the Portfolio Committee felt that the proposed wording suggested by the Department would allow for an interpretation allowing almost any person to claim a right to be consulted, resulting in a slow and cumbersome bureaucratic problem. Therefore the consultation which would take place before any exemptions were granted should be left to the discretion of the department and minister.

The committee agreed to continue deliberations on the Bill at its next meeting.