Vision
At SAMIC we are committed to ensuring the highest standards and quality of red meat and derivative products, providing producers, relevant stakeholders, and consumers with peace of mind, knowing that their choices are backed by rigorous standards, impartial and independent verification.
Mission
SAMIC is an accredited inspection body created by the red meat industry, assigned by the Department of Agriculture (DoA), that provides unbiased inspection and auditing services to ensure the classification and marking of meat is performed for the benefit of the South African red meat value chain.
Management System and Commitment
SAMIC is committed to implementing, maintaining, and continually improving its management system in accordance with the applicable requirements of the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), ISO/IEC 17020, and the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Regulation R55. Top management is also committed to the effective implementation of SAMIC’s published management system policies and to ensuring the availability of adequate resources to meet contractual. statutory, regulatory, and operational requirements, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of the management system.
SAMIC’s management system has been established in accordance with the requirements of SANAS and 1SO/IEC 17020 to enable the organisation to fulfil its obligations as an Assignee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture for the purpose of the application of sections 3(1)(a), 3(1)(b), 7 and 8 of the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990), with regard to the classification and marking of meat intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa.
SAMIC has established and published management system policies, and members of management are responsible for establishing objectives relevant to their respective areas of responsibility. Top management ensures that these policies and objectives are communicated, understood, implemented, and maintained throughout the organisation. The management system is reviewed at planned intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness, and to identify opportunities for continual improvement. Through the effective implementation and continual improvement of its management system, SAMIC maintains its SANAS accreditation as Inspection Body No. INSP0036, thereby demonstrating its competence to perform inspection activities within the scope of its accreditation.
Impartiality and Independence
SAMIC recognises the importance of impartiality, independence, and the need to identify and manage actual or potential conflicts of interest in the performance of its inspection and auditing activities. Impartiality and objectivity are fundamental to delivering consistent, reliable, and credible inspection and auditing services. SAMIC safeguards impartiality through legally binding contractual arrangements and accepts responsibility for the impartiality of its inspection and auditing activities. Commercial, financial, or other pressures are not permitted to compromise impartiality. Risks to impartiality are identified, assessed, and managed on an ongoing basis through established policies, procedures, and appropriate controls.
Confidentiality
SAMIC is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all information obtained or created during the performance of its inspection and auditing activities. SAMIC protects all information obtained or created during its inspection and auditing activities through legally enforceable commitments and appropriate controls.
Prior approval shall be obtained from the Department of Agriculture (DoA) or the relevant Quality Indication owner before any information relating to assigned activities is made publicly available. Information that is publicly available through the Department of Agriculture or the relevant Quality Indication owner, or information whose disclosure has been authorised by the information owner, is not regarded as confidential. All other information is considered proprietary and is treated as confidential.
All aspects of inspection and auditing activities are treated as confidential. Information obtained during inspection and auditing activities shall not be disclosed to any party other than the inspected entity, SANAS, or the Department of Agriculture, except with the inspected entity’s prior written consent or where disclosure is required by law. In fulfilling its statutory responsibilities, SAMIC may be required to disclose confidential information to SANAS and the Department of Agriculture without such consent.