The Parliament has summoned the ministers of trade and local government to give explanations about issues related to substandard slaughterhouses in the country. The members of parliament are concerned about the quality of meat Rwandans consume. ALSO READ: Rwanda injects Rwf1.4bn in standardising pig slaughtering The Auditor General’s report of 2021/22 said all 25 slaughterhouses that were inspected found that none fulfilled the requirements to operate. The requirements include the quality of buildings, equipment, number of workers, among others. ALSO READ: Why government is cracking down on abattoirs, butcheries The parliamentary committee on land, agriculture, livestock and environment, says the current state of slaughterhouses, notably poor hygiene practices, undermine government targets regarding meat quality and consumption. “After a thorough analysis of the Auditor General’s report, the committee found that there were multiple issues in slaughterhouses, including some that are located near residential houses, and the lack of pits to dispose of contaminated meat,” parliament said. A summary of the parliamentary committee report was presented to the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, January 18 by committee chairperson Marie-Alice Uwera Kayumba. The conditions of the transportation of meat from abattoirs to meat shops was also concerning. MP Kayumba said that 15 out of 25 surveyed meat transporters did not have licences to do the job. ALSO READ: Meat dealers urged to embrace technology to boost sector The committee also found that some meat is sold without being properly tested for diseases and contaminations. 30 out 47 slaughterhouses could not prove that the meat had been tested. After the committee presentation, the MPs decided to summon the ministers in charge to provide explanations. It is not yet known when the minister will appear in parliament. A May 2022 survey by Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) found that only seven out of 48 slaughterhouses met safety and quality standards at 70 per cent. Rwanda targets to reach safe and quality meat production of 215,000 tonnes per year in 2024.
