Worldwide learning enabled Veterinary International Trade Facilitation launches

E-Learn courses to a wide audience

by Dr Francina Swart

competency of Certifying Veterinarians. VITF strives to ensure the competency of all officials by providing adequate training in the field of certification whilst empowering exporting partners with knowledge on the requirements and procedures for export of their products to ensure an efficient, streamlined and reliable export service.

TThe mission and responsibility of Veterinary International Trade Facilitation (VITF), as the sub programme of Veterinary Services of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), is to ensure ethical certification to our international trade partners and build trustworthy trade relationships on a global scale. One of the primary pillars upon which ethical certification relies, is the

Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the world to reconsider its traditional approaches to communication and service delivery, VITF has worked to achieve access to the larger E-Learn platform of Stellenbosch University. E-Learn is an internet-based learning management system which, previously, had only been available to registered students of the university and employees of the WCDoA.

The accessibility has now been extended to external users, which allows VITF to reach a national audience. This audience includes colleagues from other provincial governments, the national government and exporting clients. VITF immediately utilised this opportunity to present essential training to certifying officials as well as exporting clients.

VITF has, since 2021, successfully presented the courses “Official Veterinary Management System at approved EU abattoirs” to Official Veterinarians stationed at approved ostrich abattoirs in the Western Cape, and “Animal Welfare Officer’s course for approved EU ostrich abattoirs” to employees and officials from approved EU ostrich abattoirs across South Africa. Both courses are prerequisites for the approval and export of ostrich meat products to the European Union.

Recently a course providing general practical guidance to all Certifying Veterinarians has been launched for the first time and attendees from various provinces are currently enrolled. Courses on the implementation of the electronic based export system (ECOS) to both officials and clients across multiple provinces and various regulatory bodies are planned for the near future.

VITF is looking forward to utilising the tool of E-learning in the future on a national, and possibly international, level to the benefit of the entire export market of South Africa.

For more information, contact Dr Francina Swart: