GAME MEAT PROCESSING
Over the past few decades, it became clear that game hunting can be undertaken for subsistence, commercial and recreational purposes. In subsistence hunting, the benefits obtained from wildlife (particularly food) are directly consumed or used by the hunter and his or her family. However, not only does the food security and livelihoods of many rural people in the tropics and subtropics depend on the use and trade of wild animals, the niche market for game meat has grown exponentially and its numerous health benefits are well sought-after (especially now in the Covid-19 pandemic).
Game shouldn't be viewed as an alternative or a supplement – it should ideally be a sought-after product in its own right, since the recorded data places 22 million head of game versus 14 million cattle currently in South Africa – assuring sustainability. Unfortunately, the bulk of game meat available on the local market is not from abattoirs because hunting/harvesting/culling is not yet regulated. The reason is that the draft Game Regulation is still in draft after 15 years of collaboration with the legislator. However, a lot of entrepreneurs and people with access to game meat are processing tons of game meat and secondary processed products freely available in most butcheries, biltong shops and retail stores.
It is thus true that some game meat producers may currently be skipping some legal requirements in terms of slaughtering or abattoirs, the amended draft Game Regulations** (which have yet to be gazetted), which indicate that meat must go through an abattoir with an independent inspector conducting meat inspection before being released to market for consumption of further processing.
Although the live game animal culling/hunting and slaughter activities are mandated to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural development (DALRRD), all further cutting, mincing and processing are mandated to the Department to Health and with clear legislative guidelines. This mandate is vested in the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972) read with Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises, the Transport of Food and Related Matters, Government Notice R638 of 22 June 2018.
Environmental health practitioners are employed on a national, provincial and municipal level to render services as mandated by the National Health Act (Act 61 of 2003). This Act defines environmental health services to include the
