Meat Act

Act 54 of 1974

Meat Act

This is the latest version of this Act.

Citation: Act 54 of 1974
Date: 30 June 2017
Language: English

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Mauritius

Meat Act

Act 54 of 1974

Commenced on 30 November 1974
[This is the version of this document at 30 June 2017.]

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Meat Act.

2. Interpretation

In this Act—"abattoir" means an abattoir established under this Act;"Authority" means the Mauritius Meat Authority established under section 3;"Board" means the Board referred to in section 6;"butcher" means a person who sells, distributes or processes meat;"Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Board;"General Manager" means the person appointed to that office under section 8;"licence" means a licence issued under this Act;"meat" means the carcass and offal of any animal, other than a bird, fish, hare or rabbit, used or intended to be used as food for human beings;"member"—(a)means a member of the Board; and(b)includes the Chairperson;"Minister" means the Minister to whom responsibility for the Authority is assigned;"slaughter man" means a person who kills and prepares animals for meat or packs raw meat.[S. 2 amended Act 48 of 1983; s. 26 (1) (a) of Act 3 of 2013 w.e.f. 26 November 2013.]

3. Establishment of Authority

(1)There is established for the purposes of this Act the Mauritius Meat Authority.

(2)The Authority shall be a body corporate.

4. Powers of Authority

The Authority may—

(a)establish and manage abattoirs;

(b)purchase and import livestock for slaughter;

(c)market meat, meat products and by-products of the slaughtering process;

(d)construct, maintain, and rent places for the sale of meat, meat products or by-products of the slaughtering process.

(e)—

(f)—

(g)—

[S. 4 amended by s. 26 (1) (b) of Act 3 of 2013 w.e.f. 26 November 2013.]

5. Powers of Minister

(1)The Minister may, in relation to the exercise of the powers of the Authority, give such specific and general directions to the Authority as he considers necessary in the public interest, and the Authority shall comply with those directions.

(2)In particular, but without prejudice to the power specified under subsection (1), the Minister may give such directions as he thinks fit to the Board or to the General Manager, and the Board or General Manager, as the case may be, shall comply with those directions.

(3)The Authority shall furnish to the Minister such information with respect to the activities of the Authority, in such manner and at such times as the Minister may require.

(4)The General Manager shall furnish to the Minister such returns or copies of such documents, including the minutes of proceedings of the Board and the accounts of the Authority, as the Minister may require.

6. The Board

(1)The Authority shall be under the general management of the Board.

(2)The Board shall consist of—

(a)a Chairperson;

(b)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of agriculture;

(c)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of finance;

(d)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of consumer protection;

(e)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of health;

(f)a representative of urban authorities;

(g)a representative of District Councils;

(h)a representative of the Stock Breeders' Association;

(i)one person to represent the interests of butchers;

(j)one person to represent the interests of consumers;

(k)2 persons to represent the interests of co-operative societies; and

(l)a representative of the employees appointed by the Minister after consultation with the employees' union.

(3)The Chairperson and the other members specified in subsection (2) (g) to (l) shall be appointed by the Minister and shall hold or vacate office on such terms and conditions as the Minister may determine.

7. Meetings of Board

(1)The Board shall meet as required at such time and place as the Chairperson may appoint.

(2)Four members shall constitute a quorum.

8. General Manager

(1)There shall be a chief executive officer of the Authority who shall be—

(a)known as the General Manager; and

(b)appointed by the Board, subject to the approval of the Minister.

(2)The General Manager shall—

(a)attend every meeting of the Board; and

(b)be responsible for the execution of the policy of the Authority and for the control and management of its day to day business.

(3)In the exercise of his functions, the General Manager shall act in accordance with such directions as he may receive from the Board.

9. Appointment of staff

(1)The Board may employ, on such terms as it may determine, veterinary surgeons or meat inspectors and such other staff as may be necessary for the proper discharge of its functions.

(2)The staff of the Authority shall be under the administrative control of the General Manager.

9A. Protection of members and employees

(1)No liability, civil or criminal, shall attach to the Authority or to any of its members or officers in respect of any act which it or he has done or omitted to do in good faith in the execution or purported execution of the duties of the Authority under this Act.

(2)Every member or employee of the Authority shall be deemed to be a public functionary within the meaning of the Criminal Code.

10. Conditions of service of staff

The Board may make provision, in such form as it may determine, to govern the conditions of service of the staff of the Authority and, in particular, to deal with—

(a)the appointment, dismissal, discipline, pay and leave of, and the security to be given by, staff;

(b)appeals by staff against dismissal and other disciplinary measures; and

(c)the establishment and maintenance of medical benefit and loan funds and the contributions payable and the benefits recoverable.

11. Delegation by Board

(1)The Board may delegate to the General Manager, subject to such general or specific instructions as it may give, such of its powers as are necessary to enable him effectively to perform his duties.

(2)The General Manager may, with the approval of the Board, delegate any of his functions to such members of staff as he may determine.