Three years from now, Samoan beef for the local commercial markets will not be allowed on the shelves unless it has MAF’s (Ministry of Agriculture) seal.
The same will also be enforced on all meat exports.
That is the one of the impacts dictated by the Slaughter and Meat Supply Act 2015 giving the legal muscle to MAF to implement and enforce regulations as well as to put in place the needed infrastructures and trained personnel as prescribed by the Act.
To that effect two new mobile abattoirs were launched this week.
And the mobile abattoirs, according to Agriculture Minister Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati, will travel out to farms to slaughter the animals, before a central abattoir is completed.
“Once the central abattoir is completed, it will be mandatory for cattle to be properly and hygienically slaughtered from the abattoirs,” he added.
“And locally processed meat without the MAF seal will not be allowed for sale.
“But any other purposes such as for personal use by families and for traditional faalavelaves are exempted from this regulation for the time being until further notice.”
The Minister elaborated that the new procedures will require cattle to be put down in the presence of a meat inspector or veterinarian to ensure that hygiene regulations are observed.
“The initiative is vital; not only for monitoring and surveillance purposes by the Ministry but it will also guarantee hygienic meat-slaughter for public consumption.
“The project is also in line with the government framework to reduce reliance on imported meat products.”
While some bigger farms have their own abattoir facilities, most do not. And the law, says Le Mamea, allows slaughter houses in various parts of the country.
“The current practice for many of these small farms is that they take their slaughtered cattle or pigs to the butcheries and they are paid on the spot,” said the Minister.
“There is no control of the way meat is processed, stored and transported but the Act prescribes tougher health regulations to address these food safety issues.”
Opening new exports markets is under the microscope.
“We have already engaged our trading partners in New Zealand and Australia.
“But the immediate target is neighboring American Samoa,” said the Agriculture Minister.
“Using American Samoa as a doorway to the lucrative US Market is the ultimate objective.
“The goal is for Samoa’s meat products to be certified to meet USDA standards.”