Assessment of Cooperatives in the Poultry Industry - 2013.pdf - Seda

Research Report: Addressing the Needs, Opportunities and Challenges of Cooperatives
and Collectively Owned Enterprises in the Poultry and Related Industries
abattoirs are requested to comply to a certain standard and are subject to conditions of
operation
meat safety schemes will also be put in place for regulation purposes
no meat may be imported into South Africa except where specific permits are obtained by
the national executive officer
meat designated for exports are also subject to conditions which include inspection by an
abattoir, standards are met, and the appropriate fees have been paid
all facilities are subject to routine inspections
Implications for SEDA and poultry cooperatives: the Meat Safety Act sets out the minimum standards
required for the production of meat; this will be applicable to cooperatives wanting to participate in the
broiler meat market. The act is aimed at providing measures to promote meat safety and the safety of
animal products, to establish and maintain essential national standards in respect of abattoirs; to regulate
the importation and exportation of meat; to establish meat safety schemes; and to provide for matters
connected therewith. Some of the standards include:
animals may only be slaughtered at an abattoir
slaughter facilities must be approved through an application and inspection process
In addition to the legislation discussed above, the national policies are discussed in the next subsection.
3.3. National Policy
The following sub-section outlines the key focus areas of the national policies. The main focus of the
review of these policies is on identifying the implications of their vision, objectives, and mechanisms
on the establishment of cooperatives in the poultry industry. Three national policies were analysed
as part of the national policy overview, and include the following:
Cooperatives Development Policy for South Africa (2004)
Integrated Strategy on the Development and Promotion of Cooperatives (2010-2020)
Regulations for Cooperatives (2008)
3.3.1.
Cooperatives Development Policy for South Africa, 2004
The Cooperatives Development Policy, 2004, was developed to address the government’s economic
policy which promotes the development of emerging economic enterprises. The aim of the policy is
also to diversify the enterprises within South Africa, in terms of their ownership, operations, services
delivered, location and size. The Cooperative Development Policy makes reference to a specific
business entity, namely cooperatives. According to the Cooperative Development Policy , “a
(primary) cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their
common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and
democratically controlled enterprise.” (The Department of Trade and Industry, 2004:7)
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