Special Investigations
Project Manager: Mrs T Blignaut
Job Title: Operations Manager
Resources: Funded by Milk SA from statutory levy income
Project purpose
The purpose is:
- to investigate food safety and other possible product non-conforming risks other than described in Project 1;
- to initiate special investigations, based on sound scientific evidence (results of analysis done on milk and any other dairy product (Project 1) or on suspicion based on the merit of information received);
- to consider further investigations based on an outcome of a request received regarding product non-compliance in respect of milk and or any other dairy product offered for sale in South Africa (Project 2);
- to sample and analyse milk (raw and heat treated) and other dairy products at processing/distributor and retail facilities as a result of activities in terms of Project 5;
- to compile comprehensive scientific reports as annexure to quarterly or annual reports as input to management review meetings; and
- to forward non-conforming results, in terms of the relevant legal standards to the manager of Project 6, for appropriate action.
A minimum of three special investigations typical to the project outline are provided for in the annual budget.
Project description
The project makes provision for investigation and testing of any milk and other dairy products that do not fall within the frequency or type of product tested in Project 1. These may result in:
- expansion of test regimes on milk and other dairy products other than the standard range of analyses conducted under Project 1, in order to collect more data for trend analysis and verification of results (see Project 5);
- submission of milk and any other dairy products to more advanced testing methods that do not form part of the standard range of analysis conducted on milk by the DSA. Where the DSA considers it appropriate, special investigations will be conducted regarding:
– compliance with specific national and international standards of milk and or any dairy products;
– food fraud and adulteration of milk and other dairy products;and
– food safety risks related to dairy products identified as national or of international origin.
- liaison with the DSA Technical Committee as and when required regarding food safety and dairy technical issues.
In the event of no risks or non-conformances identified, the information will be captured and used as part of the close-out report for the special investigation conducted.
Follow-up actions in terms of feedback reports to government organisations or resampling for verification purposes shall be considered as priority before close-out reports are documented.