Question NW3192 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
26 October 2023 - NW3192
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, following the development of the 2016-2026 South African Veterinary Strategy that was based on the evaluation by the World Organisation for Animal Health, which necessitated the development of a strategy to strengthen competencies for animal health, veterinary public health, veterinary laboratory diagnosis, the development and implementation of an identifiable animal and product traceability system and the strengthening of animal welfare, any progress was made in all five pillars of the specified strategy; if not, (a) why not and (b) what is she doing to bring about progress; if so, what are the relevant details of the progress made to date?
Reply:
Yes. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) implemented the Meat Inspection Scheme approved by the Minister on 29 November 2016 which provides for independent meat inspection. Independent meat inspection service providers were assigned by the Minister to provide meat inspection services at abattoirs across the country.
An animal welfare working group consisting of DALRRD, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and at least one provincial coordinator from all provinces was developed. The working group serves to provide advice to the department on matters related to animal welfare.
DALRRD has developed a Livestock Identification, Recording and Traceability Policy and Business Plan with the support of the Technology Innovation Agency. Implementation of various components of the Business Plan is in progress. A contractual agreement with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which is an Agency under the Department of Science and Innovation, was established in 2020. The agreement is for the CSIR Information and Cybersecurity Centre to technically support DALRRD in the development of a software application for the integration of Livestock Identification, Recording and Traceability in South Africa. Piloting of the software application Information System developed by CSIR is ongoing across the country with the support of the Livestock Industry and Provincial Departments responsible for Agriculture.
DALRRD is providing guidance to provinces through agreed upon guidelines published on the departmental website, normally referred to as Veterinary Procedural Notices (VPNs) on how to approach challenges, registrations and investigations to ensure a similar scientific approach which is harmonized.
DALRRD continues to improve on the staffing level by appointing on a yearly basis over a hundred newly qualified veterinarians who are placed particularly in needy areas to provide primary animal health care to assist in early detection of diseases in animals to reduce the impact of these diseases on food security.
(a),(b) Falls away.