International accreditation of Western Cape Agriculture Veterinary Laboratory Services
Ensuring that our livestock remains healthy, and that there are minimal threats of infectious disease outbreaks, are of vital importance as livestock farming is not just one of the oldest forms of farming in South Africa, but also one of the most important.
The Department of Agriculture has a primary animal healthcare programme that is aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of veterinary services, and improving awareness on animal health and welfare.
In rolling out the programme over the medium term, spending will be geared towards the recapitalisation and revitalisation of veterinary infrastructure, to create an enabling environment for the deployment of newly qualified veterinarians. The department planned to deploy 150 veterinary graduates in rural areas per year over the MTEF period. To contain any outbreaks, mobile veterinary clinics and associated equipment for laboratories were procured, to strengthen veterinary public health in rural areas across all provinces.
Western Cape Agriculture Veterinary Laboratory Services remains internationally accredited
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, recently hosted an awards evening for staff of the Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, to celebrate their contributions to the laboratory’s success in achieving and maintaining SANAS accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC17025 standards. This puts the services offered by the laboratory on par with any similar institution in the world.
SANAS (The South African National Accreditation System) is the only body responsible for carrying out accreditations in respect of conformity assessment as mandated through the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act (Act 19 of 2006).
The Provincial Veterinary Laboratory was the first veterinary laboratory in the country to attain SANAS accreditation as an ISO 17052 compliant laboratory. This has ensured international acceptance of lab results.
Commenting on the achievement, Minister Meyer said: “We should be extremely proud of the work being done by our Provincial Laboratory to ensure healthy animals, safe animal products and the welfare of the people of South Africa. The work done by the Provincial Laboratory is also inextricably linked to our goal to access greater export markets, and therefore the growth of our agricultural economy”.
Ten veterinary technologists are currently approved as technical signatories for the accredited test methods, in scopes of testing which include Serology for Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, and African Horse Sickness.
“Accreditation for a rapid test for African Horse Sickness means that test results are quicker and cheaper to obtain which will help with the growth of our province's equine industry”, said Meyer.