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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE , LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT  
 
No. R.                            2022 
 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990 (ACT No. 119 OF 1990)  
 
REGULATIONS REGARDING THE CLASSIFICATION AND MARKING OF MEAT INTENDED FOR SALE IN 
THE REPU BLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA : AMENDMENT  
 
The Minister of Agriculture , Land Reform and Rural Development  has, acting under section 15 of the Agricultural 
Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No.119 of 1990), made the regulations in the Schedule.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A.T. Didiza  
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development  
 
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SCHEDULE  
 
Definition s 
 
1.  In this Schedule , “the Regulations ” means the regulations published by Government Notice No. R. 55 of 
30 January 2015 . 
 
Amendment  of re gulation 1 of the Regulations  
 
2.  Regulation 1 of the Regulations is hereby amended by  -- 
 
(a) the substitution for t he definition of “mass” of the following definition:    
 
“‘mass ’ with regard to a carcass, means the warm mass as determined at the time of mea t 
classification ;” and 
 
(b) the insertion, after the definition of “ treated meat ”, of the foll owing definition : 
 
“‘week ’ with rega rd to the age of a boar carcass , means the week of the year as defined by the 
International Organization for Standardizatio n (ISO 8601) where the first week of the year is the 
earliest week with at least 4 days of the mo nth January and where Monday is the first day of the 
week .”. 
 
Amendment of regulation 6 of the Regulations  
 
3.  Regulation 6 of the Regulations is hereby amende d by the substitution for sub-regulation  (4) of the 
following sub-regulation : 
 
“(4) All carcasse s that are slaughtered at a registered abattoir shall a t all times, for the purpose of 
age classification, be identifiable with the head  of such a carcass by at tachin g same numbered stickers 
to the ca rcass and corresponding head: Provided that in the case of the head the sticker shall  consist of  
a label perman ently attached to the head ”. 
 
Amendment of regulation 11 of the Regulations  
 
4.  Regulation 11 of the Regulatio ns is hereby amended by  -- 
 
(a) the substitution for sub-regulation  (1) of the following sub-regulation : 
 
“(1) A pig carcass , including the head, with a mass of 20 kg or less on the day of slaughter shall 
be classified as the cl ass ‘Sucking pig ’.”; 
 
(b) the substitution for sub -regulation (2 ) of the following sub -regulation:  
 
“(2) A pig carcass,  including the head, with a mass of 20,1 kg or more but  not more than 110 kg 
on the day of slaughter, shall be classified as a class as s tipulated in column 1 of Tab le 3 of the 
Annexure, if the calcula ted percentage meat of the carcass is as specified in c olumn 2 of the table  
opposite the class concerned : Provided that boar carcasses  up to the age of 22 weeks  of which the 
number of the week  of birth --- 
 
(a) has been mark ed clearly on one or both of the ears, may be included up to 110 kg ; or  
 
(b) has not been mark ed clearly or not marked at all on on e or both of the ears , be include d up to 
 100 kg only.”; 
  
 and 
 
 
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(c) the substitution for sub -regulation (3) of the foll owing sub-regulation:  
 
“(3) A pig  carca ss, including the hea d, with a mass of  110,1  kg or more on t he day of slaughter  or 
100,1 kg or mor e for boar carcasses  with the week of birth mark  not clear or without the week of 
birth mark on the ear(s), shall be cl assifi ed as the class ‘ Sausage pig ’.”. 
 
Amendmen t of regula tion 12 of t he Regulations  
 
5.  Regulati on 12 of the Regulations  is hereby amended by -- 
 
(a) the substitution for sub-regulation (1) of the following sub-regulation : 
 
 “(1) The percentage meat of a pi g carc ass shall be calculated after -- 
 
(a) the fat thickness a nd m uscle th ickness have been measured b y means of an electronic 
thickness meter  between the 2nd and 3rd last rib , and 60 mm from the midline of the 
carcass , while the carcass is in a hanging posit ion;   
 
(b) the fat thickness has been measured by m eans of an  intrascope b etween the 2nd and 
3rd last rib, and 60 mm from the midline of the carcass , while the carcass is in a 
hangi ng position; or  
 
(c) the fat thickness (‘F’ ) and muscle thickness  (‘M’) have  been measur ed by means o f a 
linear meas uring de vice, such as a ruler or cal liper, on the split carcass , respectively on 
the thinnest place above the glute us medius  muscle and the distance between the 
cranial (front) tip of the gluteus medius  muscle and the dors al (up per) edge of the 
vertebr al canal,  as indicated in Figure 1 below .   
 
 
 
Figure 1: Measuring points for fat thickness  (‘F’) and muscle thickness  (‘M’)”; and  
 
(b) the substitution for sub-regulation  (2) of the following sub-regulation : 
 
“(2) The percentage  meat shall,  depend ing on the meas uring technique  used , be calculated by 
means of the following formulae , where fat thickness and muscle thickness  is expressed  in mm:  
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(a) Percentage meat with electronic  thickness meter  = 68 .052 - (0.830 x fat thickness) +  
(0.068 x muscle th ickness).  
 
(b) Percenta ge meat with intrascope = 7 0.952 - (0.891 x fat thickness).  
 
(c) Percentage meat with linear measuring devic e = 59.73 - (0.517 x fat thickness  (‘F’)) + 
(0.098 x muscle thickness  (‘M’)).”. 
 
Amendment of regulation 1 7 of t he Regulations  
 
6.  Regul ation 17 of the Regulations is hereby am ended by the substitution for sub-regulation  (2) of the 
following sub-regulatio n: 
 
“(2) Each carcass shall be roller -marked  -- 
 
(a) warm on the day of slaughter, before entering the col d room s; and  
 
(b) under supervi sion of the independent qualified person , directly after classification.” . 
 
Amendment of regulation 18 of the Regulatio ns 
 
7.  Regulation 18  of the Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-regulation  (3)(b) o f the 
following sub-regulation : 
 
“(b) a goat that has been classified a s age class -- 
 
(i) A, be applied with blue ink; and 
 
(ii) AB, B and C be appli ed with orange ink.” . 
 
Amendment of regulation 23 of the Regulations  
 
8.  Regulation 23 of the Regulations  is he reby amended by the substitutio n for sub-regulation  (3) of the 
following sub-regulation : 
 
“(3) A quality indication shall not be marked or stamp ed on the container or outer container of meat 
or a carcass unless its use is approved  by th e executive officer on written reque st:  Provided t hat where  required 
-- 
 
(a) the wri tten request is accompanied by a protocol  describing what the qual ity indication  
involves  and proof  of compliance to the protocol ;  and   
 
(b) the owner of the  quality indication shall also provide  a short summary of the protocol 
together  with contact det ails, for  public information .”. 
 
Amendment of Table 3 in the Annexure to the Regulations  
 
9.  Table 3 in the Annex ure to the r egulations is hereby am ende d by the substitution of Table 3 for the Table  
as set out below . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 “TABLE 3 / TABEL 3  
 
CLASSES FOR POR K CARCASSES  / KLASSE VIR VARKKARKASSE  
(Reg. 11)  
 
 
Class  / Klas   
Calculated percentage meat of 
carcass  (%) # / Berekende  
persentasie vl eis van karkas  (%) # 
  
Fat thickness measure d by 
means of instruments (mm)  / 
Vetdikte soos met  behulp va n 
instrumente gemeet (mm)  
 
 
1  
2  
3 
Sucking pig  / Speenvark  
 * * 
P 60 and more  / 60 en meer  
 At least 1 but not more than 12  / 
Minstens 1  maar hoogstens  12  
 
O At least 55 but less than 60 / 
Minste ns 55 maar minder as  60 
 More than 12 but not more than  18 / 
Meer as 12 maar hoogstens 1 8 
 
R At least 50 but less than 55 / 
Minstens 50 maar minder as  55 
 More than 18  but not more than 2 4 / 
Meer as  18 maar hoogst ens 2 4 
C At least 4 5 but less than 50 / 
Minstens 4 5 maar minder as  50 
 More than 2 4 but not more  than 2 9 / 
Meer a s 24 maar hoogstens 2 9 
 
U At least 40 but less than 45 / 
Minstens 40 maar minder as  45 
 More than 2 9 but not more than 3 5 / 
Meer a s 29 maar hoogs tens 3 5 
S Less than  40 / Minder  as 40  
 More than 3 5/ Meer as 3 5 
Sausage pig  / Worsvark  * 
 * 
Rough  / Ru 
 * * 
* Not specified  / Nie gespesifiseer nie  
# With due regard to regulation 12(3)  / Met inagneming van regulasie 12(3) ” 
 
COMMENCEMENT  
 
10.  This amendment s hall com e into operat ion 6 mo nths after the date of publication  thereof . 
 
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DEPART EMENT VAN LANDBOU, GRONDHERVORMING EN LANDELIKE ONTWIKKELING  
 
No. R.                      2022 
 
WET OP LANDBOUPRODUKSTANDAARDE , 1990 ( WET No. 119 VAN 1990)  
 
REGULASIES B ETREFFEN DE DIE KLASSI FISE RING  EN ME RK VAN VLEIS  BESTEM VIR VERKOOP IN 
DIE REPUBLIEK VAN SUID -AFRIKA : KON SEP WYSIGING  
 
Die Minister van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling  het kragtens artikel 15 van die Wet op 
Landbouprodukstandaarde , 1990 ( Wet No.119 van 1990), die re gulasies in die Bylae uitgevaardig . 
 
BYLAE  
 
Woordomskrywings  
 
1.  In hierdie Byl ae beteken “die Regulasies ”, die regulasies gepubliseer by Goewermentskennisgewing No. 
R. 55 van 30 Januar ie 2015.  
 
Wysiging van regula sie 1 van die regula sies 
 
2.  Regulasie 1  van die Regulasies word hierby gewysig deur  -- 
 
(a) die omskrywing  van “massa” met die volgende omkrywing te vervang:    
 
“‘massa ’ met betrekking tot 'n karkas, die warm massa soos tydens vleisklassifikas ie bepaal;”  en 
 
(b) die volgende omskrywing na die omskrywing  van “vleisklassifikasie ” in te voeg : 
 
“‘week ’ met betr ekking tot die ouderdom van 'n beerkarkas, beteken  ‘n week van die jaar soos 
gedefinieer deur die ‘International Organization for Standardizatio n’ (ISO 8601)  waar die eerste 
week van die jaar die vroeg ste week met ten minste 4 of meer dae van die maand Januarie is en 
waar  Maandag  die eerste dag van die week is.”. 
 
Wysiging v an re gulasie 6 van die Regulasies  
 
3.  Regulasie 6 van die Regulasies word hierby gewysig deur subregulasie  (4) met die volgende subregul asie 
te vervang : 
 
“(4) Alle karkas se wat geslag wor d by 'n geregistreerde abattoir moet te alle tye, vir die do eleindes  
van ouderdom sklassifikasie, identifiseerbaar wees met die kop van sodanige karkas deur plakkers wat 
dieselfde genommer is aan die karkas  en ooreenstemmende kop te heg: Me t dien verstande dat in die 
geval van die kop die plakker  uit ‘n etiket sal bestaan  wat pe rmanent  aan die kop geheg is .” 
 
Wysiging van regulasie 11 van die Regulasies  
 
4.  Regulasie 11 van die Regulasies word hierby gewysi g deur -- 
 
(a) subregulasie  (1) met di e volgende subreg ulasie  te vervang:  
 
“(1) 'n Varkkarkas, insl uitende die kop , met 'n  massa  van 20  kg of minder op die dag van slagting, 
word  as die klas ‘Speenvark’  geklassifiseer. ”; 
 
(b) subregulasie  (2) met die volgend e subregulasie  te vervang : 
 
“(2) 'n Vark karkas , insluiten de die kop,  met 'n massa van 20,1 kg of meer  maar nie meer nie as 
110 kg op die dag van slagting, word as 'n klas, soos uiteengesit in kolom 1 van Tabel 3 van die 
Aanhangsel, geklassifiseer indien di e bere kende persentasie vleis van die ka rkas is soos in k olom 2 FINAL  DRAFT  
van die tabel tee noor die betrokke kl as vermeld : Met dien ve rstand e dat b eerkarkasse  tot en met 22 
weke ouderdom  waarvan die nommer van die w eek van geboorte  -- 
 
(a) duidelik op een of beide van d ie ore  gemerk  is, tot en met 110 kg  ingesluit mag word ; of 
 
(b) nie duidelik of glad nie op een of beide van die ore  gemerk  is nie, net to t en met 100 kg 
ingesluit  mag word .”; en 
 
(c) subregulasie  (3) met die volgende subregulasie  te vervang : 
 
“(3) 'n Varkkarkas , inslui tende die kop, met ‘n massa van  110,1  kg of meer op  die dag van 
slagting  of 100,1 kg of meer v ir beerkarkasse met onduidelike  week va n geboorte merk  of sonder 
die week va n geboorte merk op die oor/ore , sal as die klas ‘Worsvark’  geklassifiseer  word .”. 
 
Wysiging van regulasie 12 van die Regulasies  
 
5.  Regulasie 12 van die Regulasies word hierby gewysig deur  -- 
 
(a) subregulasie  (1) met die v olgende subre gulasie  te ver vang:  
 
“(1) Die persentasie vleis van 'n varkkarkas word bereken nadat -- 
 
(a) die ve tdikte  en spierdikte met behulp van 'n elektroniese di ktemeter , tussen die 2de en 
3de laaste rib, en 60 mm va naf die middellyn van d ie karkas , gemeet is terw yl die 
karkas  in 'n hangende posisie is;   
 
(b) die vetdikte met behulp van 'n intraskoop, tussen d ie 2de  en 3de laaste rib , en 60 mm 
vanaf die middellyn  van die karkas , gemeet is terwy l die karkas  in 'n hang ende posisie 
is; of  
 
(c) die vetdik te (‘F’) en spierdikte (‘M’) met behulp van ‘ n lineêre meetinstrument , soos ‘n 
liniaal of skuifpasser , op die ge halvee rde karkas geme et is , op respektiewelik die 
dunste plek bokant die gluteus medius  spier en tussen die kr aniale (voor ste) punt van  
die gluteus m edius  spier en die dorsale (boonste) rant van die rugmurgkanaal , soos 
hieronder aangedui in Figuur 1 .  
  
 
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Figuur 1: Me tingsposisies vir v etdikte (‘F’) en spierdikte  (‘M’)”; en 
 
(b) subregulasi e (2) met die volgende subregulasie  te vervang:  
 
“(2) Die pers entasie vleis moet , afhangende van die metings tegniek  wat gebruik is , met behulp 
van die volgende formules bereke n word, met  die vetdikte e n spierdikte  in mm uitgedruk : 
 
(a) Persentasie vleis  met elektroniese  diktemet er = 68.052 - (0.830 x vetdikte ) + (0.0 68 x 
spierdikte ). 
 
(b) Persentasie vleis met intraskoop = 70.952 - (0.891  x vetdikte ). 
 
(c) Persentasie vle is met lineêre meetinstrument = 59.73 - (0.517 x vetdikte (‘F’)) + (0.098 
x spierdikte (‘M’)).”. 
 
Wysiging van regulasie 1 7 van die Regu lasies  
 
6.  Regulasie 17 van die Regulasies word hierby gewysig deur subregulasie  (2) met die volgende 
subregulasie  te vervang : 
 
“(2) Elke karkas moet --  
 
(a) warm  gerolmerk word op die dag van slag ting, voordat dit by die koelkam ers ingaan ; en 
 
(b) direk  na klassifika sie onder toesig van die onafhanklike gekwalifiseerde persoon gerolmerk 
word .”. 
 
Wysiging van regulasie 18  van d ie Regulasies  
 
7.  Regulas ie 18 van die Regu lasies word hierby gewysig deur subregu lasie (3)(b) met die vo lgende 
subregulasie te ve rvang:  
 
“(b) 'n bok wat geklassifiseer is as ouderdomsklas -- 
 
(i) A, aangebring word met blou ink; en 
 
(ii) AB, B en C  aange bring word met oranje  ink.” 
 
Wysiging van regulasie 23 van die Regulasies  
 
8.  Regu lasie 23 van die Regu lasies word hierby gewysig deur subregulasie  (3) met die volgende 
subregulasie  te ve rvang:  
 
“(3) ‘n Gehalte -aanduiding mag nie op die houer of bui tehoue r van vleis of op ‘n karka s gemerk of 
gestempel word nie tensy dit  deur die uitvoer ende beampte op versoek  goedgekeu r is:  Met dien verstande dat 
waar nodig -- 
 
(a) die geskrewe versoek met ‘n p rotokol wat beskryf wat die gehalte -aanduiding behels , 
asook b evestiging van voldoeni ng aan  die protokol , vergesel is ;  en 
 
(b) die eienaar van die gehalte -aanduiding ook ‘n kort opsomming van die protokol , tesame 
met kontak -besonderhede, vir publieke inligting sal voorsien .”. 
 
Wysiging van Tabel 3 in die Aanha ngsel tot die Regulasies  
 
9.  Tabel 3 in die A anhangsel tot die Regul asies word hie rby gewysig deur Tabel 3 met die Tabel soos 
hieronder uiteengesit te vervang . 
 
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INWERKINGTREDING  
 
10.  Hierdie wysiging  tree 6 maande na die datum van publikasie  daarvan in  werki ng.