Samic: Protector of red meat quality

If you thought the South African Meat Industry Company (Samic) is just about carcass competitions, think again. Fact is, the company plays a pivotal role in South Africa's meat supply chain, upholding rigorous standards of quality, safety, and transparency from the farm gate to the plate.

- By Susan Marais

According to Tom Westphal, executive director of Samic, the company's accreditation by the South African National Accreditation System (Sanas) as an inspection body under ISO/IEC 17020, confirms that Samic operates in line with international standards.

Designated years ago by the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) as an authorised body, Samic is responsible for enforcing key provisions of the Agricultural Produce Standards Act, 1990 (Act 119 of 1990) and its associated regulations (R55), as amended. The company's primary focus is the grading and labelling of meat products sold across South Africa.

Meat quality and market integrity

Samic's management highlights the company's vital role in upholding national meat industry standards and ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders. It is the sole supplier of specialised meat grading equipment in South Africa, including ink and roller stamps, as well as carcass labelling and measuring devices. Samic also oversees the calibration and maintenance of this equipment. To further guarantee quality and safety, they recently assumed full responsibility for manufacturing the ink.

Additional responsibilities include: