RMAA BACKGROUND

The RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) is a representative forum for abattoir owners in South Africa. The abattoir industry is responsible for the conversion of livestock to meat. This process remains critical to ensure a safe and wholesome product to consumers. The Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act no. 40 of 2000) addresses measures to promote the safety of meat and animal products and to establish and maintain Essential National Standards in respect of abattoirs.

The RMAA is an independent membership-based organisation, which was formed in February 1991. Prior to the deregulation process, the abattoir industry comprised mainly of larger abattoirs with high throughput. The deregulation process resulted in an increase in the number of high and low throughput abattoirs.

RMAA Mission

We serve abattoir owners by:

• providing specialised training and technical support,
• distributing relevant information and
• representing owner’s interest

to secure standards of meat safety and quality to the benefit of the red meat industry and the consumer.

Strategic Objectives

• Promote meat safety and essential national standards as provided for in the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act no. 40 of 2000).
• Provide applicable training to ensure the highest standards of animal handling and meat safety and quality.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of hygiene management programs in abattoirs.
• Participate actively in the establishment of the skills development framework in the meat industry.
• Represent the interests of members on forums relating to the abattoir industry.
• Assist in the enhancement of meat hygiene awareness in rural communities.
• Create an environment conducive to the continuing education of abattoir personnel.
• Liaise with governmental and private stakeholders in the interest of common goals.

RVAV AGTERGROND

Die RVAV (Rooivleisabattoivereniging) is ‘n verteenwoordigende forum vir abattoireienaars in Suid-Afrika.  Die abattoirindustrie is verantwoordelik vir die omskakeling van lewendehawe na vleis.  Hierdie proses is krities ten einde te verseker dat ‘n veilige en gesonde produk aan die verbruiker verskaf word.  Die Wet op Vleisveiligheid  (Wet 40 van 2000) omskryf die algemene veiligheidstandaarde vir vleis- en diereprodukte en bepaal en onderhou die  Nasionale Standaarde ten opsigte van abattoirs.

Die RVAV het in Februarie 1991 tot stand gekom en is ‘n lidmaatskap gebaseerde organisasie wat onafhanklik bedryf word.  Voor  de-regulasie het die abattoirindustrie hoofsaaklik uit groter abattoirs met ‘n hoë deurset bestaan.  Die de-regulasieproses het veral bygedra tot ‘n toename in die getal abattoirs tot meer as 470.   ‘n Groot aantal  lae deurset abattoirs is in hierdie getal ingesluit. 

MISSIE

Die RVAV se dienste aan abattoireienaars sluit o.a. in:

• gespesialiseerde opleiding en tegniese ondersteuning
• verspreiding van  relevante inligting en
• verteenwoordiging van  eienaarsbelang

ter vasstelling van ‘n hoë standaard in vleisveiligheid en -kwaliteit tot voordeel van die rooivleisindustrie en die verbruiker.

STRATEGIESE DOELWITTE

• Bevorder vleisveiligheid en Nasionale Standaarde soos omskryf in die Wet op Vleisveiligheid (Wet 40 van 2000).
• Verskaf relevante opleiding om die hoogste standaarde in dierehantering, vleisveiligheid en -kwaliteit te verseker.
• Lewer ‘n bydrae tot die ontwikkeling en implementering van higiënebestuurprogramme in abattoirs.
• Aktiewe betrokkenheid by die vasstelling van vaardigheidsontwikkeling-raamwerke in die vleisindustrie.
• Verteenwoordig die belange van lede op forums relevant tot die abattoirindustrie.
• Ondersteun die bevordering van vleishigiëne in alle gemeenskappe.
• Daarstel van ‘n positiewe leer-omgewing ten einde deurlopende onderrig vir abattoir personeel te ondersteun .
• Skakeling  met staats- sowel as privaatinstansies
  ter bereiking van gemeenskaplike doelstellings.