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STANDARDS

​

SYSTEM:

Our standard is based on properly defining what is taking place on a farm. To this end, our farmers-

  • may use any breed - although we maintain that indigenous breeds are better suited to a grass fed production system

  • farmers are audited by SA Meat Industry Corporation (SAMIC) as well as undergo annual GFSA peer group reviews on their farms

  • abattoirs, deboners, butcheries and everyone else in the meat value chain is routinely audited

  • GFSA brandmarks can only be placed on meat after successfully completing their audit and peer review

PROTOCOL:

 

To promote the common interests of persons and businesses involved in the grass fed meat industry in South Africa. 

 The GFSA farmers use the following as the core principles and must farm ruminant livestock in accordance thereto;

  • humanely reared;

  • proactively protected against disease, internal and external parasites;

  • produced in a free ranging system;

  • fed on grazing pasture, both natural (veld) and cultivated;

  • supplemented with deficient nutrients to ensure optimal growth;

  • free of administered growth enhancing drugs (hormones, growth stimulants, ionophores, routine antibiotics and beta antagonists);

  • produced in a manner that contributes to a sustainable natural environment; and

  • marketed in a manner mutually beneficial to the producer (fair price) and the consumer (quality and value)

 

The GFSA Protocols deal with and regulate the following issues:  

 

FARM  

 

  • Farmers should comply with the RPO and NERPO Code of Best Practice 

  • Farmers should comply with the Conservation of Agrucultiral Resources Act

  • Origin of Stock

  • Confinement

  • Grazing

  • Supplementation

  • Health and Biosecurity

  • Branding and Dehorning

  • Protection & Maintenance of Natural Environment

  • Water Supply

  • Breed and or Phenotype Identification (optional)

  • Handling and Transportation

  • Predator Management

  • Traceability

 

ANIMAL SLAUGHTERING

 

  • Traceability

  • Abattoirs

  • Classification

  • Onwards Traceability

 

DEBONING PLANTS, MEAT WHOLESALERS, RETAILERS, BUTCHERS, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

  

  • Traceability

  • Regulations

  • Requierments

  • Display and Selling Meat

 

THE SYSTEM - OVERVIEW

So how does the system work, you ask. Simple:

 

Step 1: 

FARMER successfully applies to become a member of GFSA - email here for forms.

FARMER will either be classifed as -

  • INITIATE - which means that the farmer is not yet ready to actively supply meat to market; OR

  • ACTIVE MEMBER - farmer has cattle and a contract to supply certified grass fed and/or free range meat

 

Step 2:

GFSA will conduct a peer review (PGS) on the farm using GFSA Standards. Inspections will occur on the appointed abattoir, an overview of the contract between farmer and the buyer as well as an inspection on the premises of everyone down the value chain for the farmer's meat. 

 

Step 3:

SAMIC will audit the farmer using GFSA Protocol as well as the abattoir and everyone down the value chain for that farmer's meat.

 

Step 4:

Farmer and everyone down the value chain must ensure that every pack of meat sold through the farmer bears GFSA labels. This ensures that every piece of meat that our supporting consumers purchase can be traced back to the farmer.

 

 

 

LABELS & CLAIMS

 

To help the consumer understand what the labels mean, here is a brief summary:

 

 

BRANDMARKS / LABELS

ROLLERMARKS

GRASS FED:  Animal has from weaning up to its culling consumed its daily nutritional intake off grazing pastures (which includes natural and cultivated pastures). Pastures should be supplemented when nutrients are deficient, which supplementation may not contain any grain.

FREE RANGE: An animal has from its birth up to culling roamed freely on a farmer's land without permanent restriction or being penned . 

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