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Plant Health

Legislation and Regulations

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. 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. 3055 of 17 February 2023

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    2.2 Control Measures: 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:

    R.1012 of 01 August 1997 R.810 of 31 August 2001 R.461 of 25 April 2008
    R.288 of 27 February 1998 R.714 of 24 May 2002 R.1148 of 11 December 2009
    R.1470 of 20 November 1998 R.831 of 21 June 2002 R.48 of 05 February 2010
    R.1016 of 27 August 1999 R.1364 of 8 November 2002 R.19 of 21 January 2011
    R.83 of 22 January 2001 R.563 of 17 June 2005 R.1002 of 06 June 2014.
    Amendment of Control Measures R.1998 of 8 April 2022 R. 1271 of 17 November 2017 R. 3056 of 17 February 2023

     

    2.3 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:

    2.4 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:

    2.5 Control Measures relating to cotton

    2.6 Control Measures relating to Fall armyworm R. 449 of 26 May 2017

    3. Draft Bill 4. Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Policy for South Africa 5. Control Measures relating to Asian Citrus Greening R.121 of 12 February 2021

    6. Control measures relating to the Polyphagous shot hole borer R.725 of 13 August 2021.

    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: MaandaR@dalrrd.gov.za or CharlesN@dalrrd.gov.za