Linking the producer to the consumer

Consumers in developed countries have been bombarded with negative reports on food safety, the impact on the environment of food production and animal welfare issues. Who can blame the discerning consumer for insisting that the origin and production methods of food products should be documented and certified?

Consumers have the right to demand certain standards of nutrition, safety and eating quality of their food; and can refuse to buy food that is not produced according to high ethical standards, including labour, animal welfare and preservation of the environment.

Consumer preferences have become an absolute requirement. Farm Assured Namibian Meat links the consumer to the producer and it is quite possible that consumers in importing countries will in future make contact with the producers of the meat that they consume.

The Farm Assured Namibian Meat Scheme was designed to allow Namibian producers to comply with the requirements of the European Union and to put the necessary infrastructure in place to enable the Directorate of Veterinary Services to certify that the minimum requirements have been met. The scheme combines existing legislation with good management practices and record keeping and an undertaking from all stakeholders in the meat industry to ensure that the required standards are maintained.

The Meat Board manages the Farm Assured Namibian Meat Scheme. Participants include livestock producers, agents and processing plants. All of then undertook to adhere to the standards of the scheme.

Standards are laid down in the following regulatory controls: