Africa-Press – Botswana. The Board of Authority of Meat Industries Regulatory Authority (MIRA) was appointed in August last year and the process to recruit a Chief Executive Officer is under way.
Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said it was envisaged that the establishment of the administrative departments of the authority would be completed this year. The acting minister said the setting up of the regularity departments were likely to be delayed on account of the prevailing liquidity challenges.
He said under the circumstances, it was proper to highlight that the process was likely to be completed during the 2026/2027 financial year or soon thereafter. Also, he said the drafting of the MIRA Act Regulations by the Attorney Generals Chambers was ongoing, and so far five draft regulations have been produced, covering production and placing in the market of meat products, process hygiene and food safety, grading, animal traceability and animal welfare.
Also, he said MIRA would take up some of the regularity functions hitherto, performed by the ministry’s Department of Veterinary Services and the Department of Animal Production. Specifically, he said MIRA would regulate, in accordance with the regulated sector legislation, the control of sale of livestock, licensing of abattoirs and meat inspection, control of importation of livestock and meat products and promote livestock and meat production quality assurance programmes.
He said PART one as well as six of the MIRA Act were commenced in 2024 to pave the way for the establishment of the governance structure of the authority. Dr Dikoloti added that seed budget of P20 million has been reserved for the establishment of the authority.
He further said that the objective of the MIRA Bill was to strengthen the regulatory framework for the livestock sector by establishing the authority intended to create a conducive environment in the sector and to protect interest of both the farmers and consumers. The acting minister added that the Bill was passed in July 2023 and assented into law in November 2023. Tlokweng MP, Mr Phenyo Segokgo had enquired about the implementation of the MIRA Act in a bid to liberalise the beef industry.
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