World-class beef with a proud heritage

PASSION FOR QUALITY

Quality Assured

Quality certifications at our Cattle Feeding Operations and Beef Processing Facility

Our Marquard cattle feeding operation is certified to ISO 22000 standards, ensuring that our cattle are treated humanely and mitigating the risk associated with feeding and medicating animals. Our world-class electronic identification system (EID) is at the core of our ISO certification as this system places much emphasis on the traceability of every animal regarding the details of the life cycle of every animal.

Our beef processing facility is FSSC 22000 certified. Fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative, this certification demonstrates Sparta’s commitment to ensuring that world-class health and safety standards are adhered to. The traceability of our EID system continues throughout our vertically integrated operation up to packaged deboned batch.

The beef processing facility is certified halaal by the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) for the abattoir and deboning process and by the National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) for our retail pack division.

In our Marquard cattle feeding operation we are proud to be certified with the following international standards and specifications: ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 22000 (Food Safety) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management system).

Quality Certifications

Our quality is underpinned by the following certifications and standards we adhere to from start to finish.

ISO 9001

Quality

ISO 14001

Environmental

ISO 22000

Food Safety

ISO 45001

Occupational Health and Safety Management system

FSSC 22000

Food Safety

  • ISO certification, for the production of our live animals (integrating the ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO 22000 (food safety) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management system).
  • FSSC 22000 certification for our beef plant.
  • Compliance to the Meat Safety Act (Act 40 of 2000 — Red Meat Regulations), adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Good Hygiene Practice (GHP) in all sectors of the plant.
  • The ISO system implemented at the cattle feeding operation is strictly adhered to, ensuring that the raw product sent to the meat plant is safe and of a high standard.
  • We utilise external meat inspection and classification services (IMQAS), as well as a local veterinarian to visually inspect livestock before and during the slaughter process.
  • Monthly visits from a South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC) coordinator ensure that classifiers are continually updated on regulations as set by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
  • Humane handling procedures are practised and maintained at every stage of the slaughter process. Safety and quality procedures continue to be monitored throughout the process until delivery to our customers.
  • Regular training from the Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA) ensures that we stay up to date with the latest slaughter techniques.
  • We are certified halaal by the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) for slaughtering and deboning and by the National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) for retail-packed, value-added beef products.
  • Our cattle feeding operation undergoes continuous maintenance throughout the year. Activities to ensure clean water and highly palatable feed to cattle are undertaken several times a day.
  • We comply with the strict guidelines concerning feed additives and veterinary health products established by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Inspections and audits are done on a regular basis to ensure legislative compliance.
Our value add and retail pack facility is accredited by the National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT), formally the (IHT), who aspires to the highest halaal standards as prescribed by the Sharia (Islamic Law).

VISIT NIHT WEBSITE

We are a certified South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) halaal abattoir. The SANHA has two full-time employees at our abattoir and we furthermore employ halaal slaughter men.

VISIT SANHA WEBSITE

Registered Quality Claims

ZA Select
We select beef that has been slaughtered in South Africa – ZA select beef. ZA refers to the official international identification for South Africa as per the Automobile Association as well as the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) international plant number identification as used for export facilities – a generally accepted identification for South Africa. We specify what we select (opt for, hand-pick, stipulate, prefer, favour) by qualifying what we select for, the qualification being ZA (South African) beef. The word ‘select’ is not an indication of the quality of the product, but merely an indication that the beef was slaughtered in South Africa.
Quality Assured
Our cattle feeding operation is ISO 22000 certified, ensuring that our cattle are treated humanely and mitigating the risk associated with feeding and medicating animals. Our electronic identification system is at the core of our ISO certification as this system puts much emphasis on the traceability of every animal regarding the details of the life cycle of every animal. Our beef processing facility in Welkom is FSSC 22000 certified and subjected to stringent health and safety measures. Fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative, the FSSC 22000 certification demonstrates Sparta’s commitment to ensuring world-class health and safety standards. The traceability afforded us by our EID system continues throughout our vertically integrated operation up to packaged deboned batch. The Sparta beef plant is certified in halaal by the SANHA and NIHT. Our beef processing facility is export approved by the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Export plant number ZA 91.