On October 11, 2024, South Africa announced that it intends to amend the classification and packaging and labeling provisions of meat products under the Agricultural Standards Act, with a feedback period of 60 days. Main contents:

(1) Delete the definition of "meat analogue" and amend the definition of the outer packaging and label, which includes the weight and price of the product, other information about the product: a brief description of the product or the best by date, etc.;

(2) Amend article 11. Containers used to contain processed meat products should be clearly marked with batch codes that are easily identifiable and traceable and cannot be removed or altered; The batch code can be replaced by "best before" or "shelf life" etc.; Each individual package should be affixed with batch code information;

(3) Amend article 16. The meat content of the actual product shall not be less than 2% or more of the content specified in the label; The difference in fat content from the specified fat content for a particular processed meat product must not exceed 2%.

For more details see: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202410/51372rg11748gon5419.pdf