Original Research

A survey on auditing, quality assurance systems and legal frameworks in five selected slaughterhouses in Bulawayo, south-western Zimbabwe

Kaurai E. Masanganise, Gift Matope, Davies M. Pfukenyi
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 80, No 1 | a575 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v80i1.575 | © 2013 Kaurai E. Masanganise, Gift Matope, Davies M. Pfukenyi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 09 February 2013 | Published: 28 June 2013

About the author(s)

Kaurai E. Masanganise, Department of Veterinary Technical Services, Veterinary Public Health Branch, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Gift Matope, Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Davies M. Pfukenyi, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the audits, quality assurance (QA) programmes and legal frameworks used in selected abattoirs in Zimbabwe and slaughterhouse workers’ perceptions on their effectiveness. Data on slaughterhouse workers was gathered through a self-completed questionnaire and additional information was obtained from slaughterhouse and government records. External auditing was conducted mainly by the Department of Veterinary Public Health with little contribution from third parties. Internal auditing was restricted to export abattoirs. The checklist used on auditing lacked objective assessment criteria and respondents cited several faults in the current audit system. Most respondents (>50.0%) knew the purposes and benefits of audit and QA inspections. All export abattoirs had QA programmes such as hazard analysis critical control point and ISO 9001 (a standard used to certify businesses’ quality management systems) but their implementation varied from minimal to nil. The main regulatory defect observed was lack of requirements for a QA programme. Audit and quality assurance communications to the selected abattoirs revealed a variety of non-compliances with most respondents revealing that corrective actions to audit (84.3%) and quality assurance (92.3%) shortfalls were not done. A high percentage of respondents indicated that training on quality (76.8%) and regulations (69.8%) was critical. Thus, it is imperative that these abattoirs develop a food safety management system comprising of QA programmes, a microbial assessment scheme, regulatory compliance, standard operating procedures, internal and external auditing and training of workers.

Keywords

Audits; legal frameworks; quality assurance programmes; slaughterhouses; Zimbabwe

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Crossref Citations

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