Legislation and Regulations
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1. Legislation
The purpose of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983) and its subordinate legislations is to provide for measures by which agricultural pests may be prevented and combated and for matters connected therewith. The Act also mandates the Directorate Plant Health to regulate plants, plant products and other regulated articles when imported into South Africa. Plants, plant products and related materials are capable of harbouring quarantine pests, which if they enter South Africa with imported commodities and establish, may endanger the South African agricultural, horticultural or forestry sectors. Similarly, pests that occur in South Africa may endanger countries to which we export and as a result South Africa may lose its export markets.
2. Import Regulations
2.1 Regulations R.111 of 27 January 1984
Regulations R.111 of 27 January 1984 provide for importation of plants, plant products and other regulated articles by means of import permit. Regulations R. 111 was amended by the following amendments
- R.2350 of 14 November 1986
- R.75 of 18 January 1991
- R.1637 of 27 October 1995
- R. 4436 of 1 March 2024
2.2 Consolidated Government Notice R.1013 of 26 May 1989 as amended.
Government Notices R.1013 of 26 May 1989 provide for importation of controlled goods without a permit, subject to requirements stipulated in that notice. Government Notices R. 1013 was amended by the following amendments:
- R.2252 of 26 November 1993
- R.57 of 8 January 1999
- R.306 of 15 March 2002
- R.830 of 21 June 2002
- R.1058 of 27 October 2006
- R.49 of 05 February 2010
- R.2855 of 15 December 2022
3. National Control Measures
3.1 Consolidated Control Measures R. 110 of 27 January 1984 as amended
Control Measures R. 110 of 27 January 1984 provide for national control measures of pests of plants, plant products and other regulated articles thereby prohibiting the movement of plant material from infected areas to non-infected areas.
Control Measures R. 110 has the following amendments:
3.2 Control Measures relating to Fall armyworm R. 449 of 26 May 2017.
3.3 Control Measures relating to Asian Citrus Greening R.121 of 12 February 2021
3.4 Control measures relating to the Polyphagous shot hole borer R.725 of 13 August 2021
3.5 Control Measures relating to cotton
3.6 Control measures relating to honey-bees R.858 of 15 November 2013
Control measures relating to honey-bees are primarily regulating the registration of beekeepers with the DAFF, marking of beehives, record keeping by beekeepers, inspection of every colony in beehives by beekeepers, prohibition of removal of Capensis-infected colonies, destruction of Capensis-infected colonies, prohibition of movement of infected honey-bee colonies, destruction of infected honey-bee colonies and exemption from control measures.Control Measures relating to honey-bees R.858 of 15 November 2013 was amended by the following amendment:
4. Draft Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill
- Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill, 2016 GG No. 40467
- Notice Publication of explanatory summary of the Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill-2016
5. Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy for South Africa
- Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy for South Africa, 2014 GG No. 38102
- Implementation Plan for the Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
For more information please contact:
Directorate Plant Health
Private Bag X14, Gezina, 0031
Division: Policy Norms and Standards
Tel: 012 319 6164/012 319 6116
Fax: 012 319 6025
Email: