Monday, January 9, 2023 | 9:41 a.m.
After the chopping of the meat is suspended, a “stretcher” will be implemented to move the half beef. (Photo: TN)
After the chopping of the meat is suspended, a “stretcher” will be implemented to move the half beef. (Photo: TN)
The half of beef will continue to be in force, despite the fact that months ago the 15th of this month had been set as the last day enabled. The Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation agreed at the Meat Technical Table to repeal the measure of chopping meat established by Resolution 2/2022, The Argentine Chamber of Slaughterers and Suppliers (Camya) announced its proposal alternative: the use of “mechanical means” to unload them and prevent workers in the sector from suffering due to their heavy weight.
The Government confirmed that the provisions of the Superintendence of Occupational Risks (SRT) were complied with, with the presentation of a prototype similar to a stretcher that was developed with the assistance of the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI).
Thus, joint work to address the health of workers in the sector and safety controls on meat products, momentarily cleared up the controversy between the different actors in the meat chain.
The “stretcher” allows unloading and moving half carcasses of up to 160 kilos from transport to retail stores, and is also used for quarters of less weight.
La Camya prepared a manual detailing how to build and use this transport, which “has been developed in compliance with the regulations established by the SRT, referring to loading and unloading procedures and with the strictest sanitary standards,” they explained.
The solution came at the same time that it became known that the national government repealed the resolution that imposed, as of January 16, the obligation to market wholesale meat in pieces of no more than 32 kilos.
From the refrigerator to the new manual transport: the “stretcher”
The construction of this manual transport was carried out with stainless steel. It has floor separation by steel sheet, a cleaning and disinfection kit and coverage for outdoor transfers.
“The proposed prototype is a generic model, which can be modified or improved as indicated by the practice of its use. It is accompanied by a user manual and instructions for its construction that we make available free of charge”, they explained.
“In this way, we contribute to complying with current legislation, preventing workers from carrying inappropriate weights on their backs and observing the strict hygiene standards required by food products. With this tool, we settle in a positive way the controversy caused by the mandatory quartering initiative, proposing concrete solutions that have the consensus of the majority of the actors in the cattle and meat chain”, they affirmed.
