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18 November 2008

The European Commission will provide a training workshop on EU legislation for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as for meat related legislation, in Boksburg on 25 to 27 November. The workshop forms part of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers' better training for safer food initiative.

Some 60 participants from Southern Africa are expected to attend - the group will be made up largely of national authority control staff dealing with animal health and food safety and also some participants from the private sector. Representatives of regional organisations, including the African Union (AU) and the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa, are also expected to attend.

The training is aimed at giving participants a clear and common understanding of EU BSE and meat legislation. Attendants should subsequently be better equipped to monitor and detect the disease and to carry out effective controls on the meat production process. This is essential in order to ensure that meat placed on the market does not present public health risks. Meeting EU standards in these areas will also open access to the European market for African meat products, thus fostering economic development with a positive knock-on effect on poverty alleviation.

Training will include plenary presentations and site visits. The workshop will begin with a general overview of EU food legislation, to be followed by presentations covering food and veterinary office inspections and EU legislation applicable to official controls, the process for official recognition of BSE risk status, animal feeding, monitoring programmes, controls in primary production and processing establishments.

Participants will be divided into groups and will participate in either site visits or working groups and discussion sessions. Site visits will take place at farms and slaughterhouses approved by the South African authorities and will focus on controls in primary production and hygiene in slaughterhouses.

For more information see: http:// www.foodinfo-europe.com

Press conference

Minister Lulu Xingwana (Agriculture and Land Affairs) and Mr Lauro Panella (European Commission) to address the media at:

Venue: Birchwood Hotel, Viewpoint Street, Bartlett, Boksburg, Chestnut Room
Time: 19h00
Date: 24 November 2008
Tel: 011 897 0000

Journalists who want to attend can confirm with:
Tshidi Baloyi
Tel: 012 319 7929
Cell: 072 666 1317

Tshepo Seloana
Tel: 012 319 6986
Cell: 073 039 2555

For further information contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7317
Fax: 012 319 7858
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: cco@nda.agric.za

Issued by: Department of Agriculture
18 November 2008