Question NW3176 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
16 November 2018 - NW3176
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(1) (a) What number of inspector positions exist in the Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance and (b) what number of posts are (i) filled and/or (ii) vacant; (2) Whether any work of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance is outsourced; if not, why not; if so, (a) what kind of work is outsourced and (b) what is the budget for outsourcing?
Reply:
- (a) The Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance does not have positions or designations of inspector posts in their establishment since in the main it is the policy development unit. The Directorate utilizes a matrix of inspectors residing within the Directorate Inspection Services and the designated assignees to enforce the two legislations (Agricultural Product Standards Act 119 of 1990 and the Liquor Products Act 60 of 1989). There are currently 39 inspectors who are responsible for inspection of certain regulated products and the exercise of an oversight role over the activities of the designated assignees. (b) there is a total of (i) 30 (thirty) filled posts and (ii) 9 (nine) vacant posts.\
- (a) There is no work of the Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance that has been outsourced. However, the Agricultural Product Standards Act 119 of 1990 does allow the designation of assignees to complement the inspection services. There are currently seven assignees in terms of the Agricultural Product Standards Act (b) the designation does not cost the department anything.