The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will hold off on any seizure of meat products until November 17 as industry raises job security concerns and impact on local manufacturers.
Cape Town - While the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development say they stand by their view that certain plant-based product names are reserved for processed meat products only, the plant-based food industry is planning an appeal.
“The department accepts the interim order handed down by the Honourable Judge Makume in the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, on August 19.
“The department notes that the judgment has been granted with the rule nisi which is returnable on November 17. The department is still of the firm legal view that prescribed product names reserved for processed meat products must only be used in connection with the sale of such products provided that concomitant standards and classes are complied with,” the department said in a statement.
The government authority said its assignee, the Food Safety Agency (Pty) Ltd, would hold off any seizure of meat products until November 17 but would carry out inspections.
“Accordingly, directions in terms of section 3A of the Act shall be issued against sellers of meat analogue products that still use prescribed product names of processed meat products, either by itself or in conjunction with any other written, printed, illustrated or visual material.”
Food awareness organisation ProVeg said it hoped the interdict would allow the department to reconsider its stance.
“We still believe the best and only way this will be resolved will be by industry-wide discussions and the drafting of new and appropriate regulations. ProVeg really wants to highlight the fact that this issue impacts a broad range of South Africans from different backgrounds.
“The impact of this action would be felt by local manufacturers of other vegetarian products like butternut and beetroot burgers that do not even attempt to replicate the taste and texture of meat. It impacts consumers from multiple backgrounds, including those who eat plant-based for religious reasons, including Hindus, Seventh-Day Adventists and Rastafarians, and consumers that follow a plant-based diet for environmental, health or ethical reasons.
“The department’s initial actions threaten job security and put financial pressure on companies that will, in some cases, be passed on to consumers. Nothing about this action protects consumers. There will be an appeal on behalf of the industry in terms of Section 10 of the Agricultural Products Standards Act.”
Cape Times