South Africa: Updated Guidelines for Meat Sampling, Handling, Transportation

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has published guidelines regarding procedures for sampling, transportation and handling of meat samples that are meant for microbiological monitoring. The standard procedures apply to abattoirs, importers, and export cold stores, cutting, deboning, and processing plants linked to an export abattoir, and food safety laboratories. Post reviewed the Guidelines for Microbiological Monitoring of Imported Meat SOP that was signed in 2011 and the recent guidelines published on September 29, 2021, and found no indications of substantial changes to existing processes. Post consulted with DALRRD and received confirmation that the new Guidelines will not supersede the 2016 bilateral agreement on sampling and testing, as outlined in “Agreement on Poultry Importation from the USA to South Africa.”