South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC) was called to life in 1997 by the thirteen role players, who up until then served on the Meat Board.
These included the small and large stock divisions of the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), the National Emergent Red Meat Production Organisation (Nerpo), the Skins Hides and Leather Council (SHALC), the South African Feedlot Association (SAFA), the South African Federation for Livestock Association (SAFLA), the Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA), the Association for Meat Imports and Exports (AMIE), the South African National Consumer Union (SANCU), the Gauteng Meat Traders Employers Union (GMTEU), the National Federation of Meat Traders (NFMT), the South African Meat Processing Association (SAMPA) and the South African Pork Producers Association (SAPPO).
These same role-players are the sole members of SAMIC. To prevent manipulation or interference with standards, membership does not yield any financial or other gains. The industry as a whole, however, benefits from SAMIC’s efforts to safeguard product standards and in effect protect consumers and farmers against fraudulent or potentially harmful products.
The South African Meat Industry Company is funded by its members, with a new budget being presented to these role-players each year. The budget is linked to the cost of different inspection and auditing services to allow the company to break even, together with a little extra money to buffer itself against unforeseen costs and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Beef production in South Africa has a rich heritage, with cattle being used in the past and even today for different reasons in various cul...