About us
About Us
The RPO protects and promotes the interests of commercial red meat producers within the value chain of the red meat industry. The RPO is a collective bargaining organisation that improves the economic prosperity of its members.
The RPO NC (Provincial Level) and RPO (National Level) are financed by voluntary contributions.
The RPO focuses on key business tasks such as:
- Animal Health
- Import Monitoring
- Rate Protection
- Trade Agreements
- Counselling and Training
- Negotiations on Legal frameworks
- Promoting the economic position of producers and industry stability
- The promotion of producers’ interests and affairs with government and non-governmental organizations
- The establishment and promotion of a positive image of the red meat industry and the products
- Predator Control
- The prevention of stock theft
- The bargaining for the reduction of input and marketing costs
- Information about Production systems
- Market Information
- Research
THE RPO'S INSPECTION IN AND PARTICIPATION TO STRUCTURES
The RPO has direct links, representation and participation in the following institutions to protect and promote the interests of the red meat producers:
- National Agricultural Marketing Council
- National Agricultural Research Forum
- Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP)
- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI)
- Wild Ranching South Africa (GRSA)
- National and Provincial stock theft forums
- Organisations of Organized Agriculture
- Agri SA Operating Units
- Commodity Trusts
- Livestock Producers Organization of Namibia (NLPO)
- Predation Management Forum (PMF)
- Breeding Societies
- National and Provincial Government Departments
- Training and Research Institutions
- Southern African Livestock and Red Meat Forum (SALMF)
- Coordinating Committee for Welfare of Livestock (LWCC)
- Red Meat Research and Development SA (RMRD-SA)
- Other Producing Organisations
- Skaapvleis SA
- International Industry Organizations
The RPO represents the interests of red meat producers in the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF), representing all the institutions involved in the full value chain of the red meat industry.
The RMIF is composed of:
- South African Pork Producers Organization (SAVPO)
- Red Meat Abattoir Association (RVAV)
- South African Feedlot Association (SAVV)
- South African Federation of Livestock Agents (SAFLA)
- National Federation of Meat Dealers (NFMT)
- South African Meat Processors (SAMPA)
- South African National Consumer Union (SANCU)
- Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE)
- South African Hide, Leather and Skin Council (SHALC)
- National Emerging Red Meat Producers Organization (NERPO)
- South African Meat Distributors and Allied Workers Union (SAMAU)
- RPO Big Cattle
- RPO Small Cattle
The RPO, together with NERPO, forms the Federation of Red Meat Producers of South Africa dealing with the collective interests of primary commercial and emerging red meat producers.
WHY ARE VOLUNTARY CONTRUBTIONS LEVIED?
Critically important functions for the survival and prosperity of primary red meat producers and the red meat industry are funded from two separate sources of funding: the compulsory statutory levy and the voluntary producer contribution.
The statutory levy is instituted within the framework of the National Agricultural Marketing Act and is used exclusively for the following important functions of the red meat industry:
- Consumer Security (food safety)
- Consumer Communication and Education
- Research and Development
- Industry Liaison
- Emerging Sector Development
- Production Development and Operational Projects
ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS
Functions financed in the interests of the producer from the voluntary contribution:
- Provincial and National office and staff
- Administrative management of national offices and provinces
- Radio and TV interviews
- Consumer Education
- Producer Liaison using information days, congresses, text messages, website information, brochures, Facebook, the Red Meat magazine and an electronic newsletter
- Policy influence at the provincial and national governments
- Liaison with departments and veterinary services on issues such as border and disease control
- Training of producers and their workers
- Funding of relevant research projects
- The operation of the National and Provincial Stock Theft Forums
- Consumer Liaison