Promoting the improvement of dairy quality and safety

Communication with other Organisations

Communication with the authorities

Liaison and communication with the following government departments are conducted on a regular basis as to ensure continuity, with specific reference to food safety and quality-related matters that require a proactive approach and or statutory intervention.

Government institutions

• Department of Health

a. Directorate Food Control
    For the purposes of its regulatory activities, the Directorate: Food Control of the Department of Health is advised by the Food Legislation Advisory
    Group (FLAG). DSA serves as a member of the advisory group and participates on matters relating to the dairy regulatory environment.

b. Port Health Services
    Priority is given to ports of entry where dairy products are more frequently handled. Other ports of entry are to be communicated with on an ad hoc basis.

c. Municipal Health Authorities
    Establishment and maintenance of relationships with health authorities of metropolitan, district and local municipalities in South Africa.

• Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)

a. Directorate: Inspection services

b. Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance (policy making)

c. National Directorate Animal Health and provincial state veterinary offices

• NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications): Legal Metrology

Legal Metrology Inspection regional offices

• Pretoria
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Port Elizabeth
• Bloemfontein

• NCC (National Consumer Commissioner)

Communication with Consumer Commissioner (law enforcement) and Consumer Goods Ombud on issues relating to milk and other dairy products to the consumer in terms of the Consumer Protection Act. 

• SABS (South African Bureau of Standards)

Communication with SABS relates to liaison on legislation and is dealt with under Project 7: Liaison on legislation with authorities. 

• SARS

Communication with SARS regarding prima facie cases of milk and fermented milk adulteration in terms of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 1991 (Act 89 of 1991). 

Communication with other organisations

• CGCSA (Consumer Goods Council of South Africa): Food Safety Initiative
  

  The DSA, on an ad hoc basis, liaise with the CGCSA: Food safety initiative regarding objective, independent and scientific advice on dairy-related matters. DSA serves as a member of CGCSA: FSI
  
  

• Milk SA
  

  Milk SA deals with issues of common interest to the primary dairy industry (milk producers) and secondary dairy industry (milk processors). DSA interacts on a regular basis with the project managers of the Milk SA Consumer Education Project and SAMPRO, MPO as well as the Project Coordinating Committee of the Milk SA (DSA, CEP and R&D Project of Milk SA) of which scheduled meetings to take place regularly.
  The Project management of the Regulations and Standards Project of Milk SA consults regularly with the organised dairy industry with specific reference to regulatory matters. DSA serves on the following committees of Milk SA:
  • Research and development - DRDC
  • Skills Development
  • Customs Duty and Market Access
  • Regulations and Standards (Project management)
  • Milk SA Project Coordinating CommitteeMPO (Milk Producers Organisation)
  
  

• DSA and transformation in the dairy industry
  

  The primary objective of the Dairy Standard Agency is to promote the improvement of dairy quality (compositional standards), food safety and metrology standards on a national level, in the interest of the industry and the consumer. Activities within the scope of the approved statutory and non-statutory projects (which are aligned with the objectives of Milk SA) are generic which directly and indirectly contribute to the empowerment of the previously disadvantaged. These activities include presentation of workshops and information sessions to government officials and student environmental health practitioners during which transfer of dairy technological information and regulatory matters are done. Workshops and sessions at tertiary institutions are conducted predominantly (more than 90%) to previously disadvantaged students and individuals.

  The DSA acknowledges the commercialisation of black dairy farmers and at secondary (processing/manufacturing) level, as stakeholders in the SA dairy industry as well as the need for the development and implementation of appropriate supportive services necessary to create a sustainable environment for food safety and quality raw milk production and further processing.
  
  To this effect, the DSA actively work in close collaboration with the Transformation Project as well as other projects of Milk SA, where appropriate to support the overall strategies and objectives of Milk SA.

   

  By a Milk SA Board resolution, DSA manages the Milk SA Regulations and Standards Project and report to the Milk SA Advisory Committee: Regulations and Standards. (See Milk SA Regulations and Standards project).

• MPO (Milk Producers Organisation)
  

  The MPO provides supportive and related services to the milk producers of South Africa. DSA liaise on a regular basis with MPO.

• SAAFoST
  SAAFoST is a non-profit, largely volunteer-run, national association of food science and other technical professionals concerned with advancing the knowledge of food science and technology. 
  
  
• SAATCA (Southern African Auditor and Training Certificate Authority)
  

  SAATCA’s mission is to recognise and satisfy the needs of stakeholders in Southern Africa and provide confidence to the industry by setting criteria in line with National and International Standards to ensure the competence of:

  • Management System Auditors and Product and Process Auditors;
  • Management System auditing Training Course Providers.
  
  

  DSA is a standing member of SAATCA.

• SAIEH (South African Institute for Environmental Health)
  The SAIEH is a body that advances and promotes the science and practice of environmental health. The body also affiliates and liaise with local, national (such as DSA) and international organisations aimed at promoting the science and practice of environmental health.
  
  
• SAMPRO (South African Milk Processors’ Organisation)
  SAMPRO is the voluntary organisation of milk processors for the promotion of the development of the secondary industry to the benefit of the dairy industry, the consumer and the South African society. DSA serves on the Technical Committee of SAMPRO.
  
  
• SANCU (South African National Consumer Union)
  The DSA regularly attends SANCU meetings together with other government stakeholders. Liaison regarding legislative matters on food and dairy control is supported. SANCU is a voluntary autonomous body that represents the consumer.
  
  
• SASDT (South African Society for Dairy Technology)
  The DSA liaise with the SASDT regarding dairy safety and quality-related matters on an ad hoc basis. SASDT promotes and encourages technological and scientific advancement by the dissemination and application of knowledge and the provision of opportunities for discussion, co-operation, education, training and research. DSA also serves on the management of the SASDT.

Planned activities and outputs

Planned activities and outputs 

Communication with authorities

Communication with other organisations