A proposed new Fertilizer Bill will, if implemented, affect the fertiliser and related industries in several ways, including adding to the administrative burden of the registration of product. Increased regulation may also result in fertiliser cost increases. Theo Boshoff and Ingrid Boshoff outline their concerns.
The bill will allow DAFF to outsource the functions performed by the registrar of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act No. 36 of 1947 to an assignee of its choice. Some important changes affecting the industry will include the registration of all raw materials, the licensing of all manufacturing facilities, and the storage of raw materials or fertiliser products.
Apart from the increased regulation, the industry will be expected to bankroll all of the costs attached to the introduction of a levy to finance the implementation through assignees. The registration of fertilisers has always been undertaken under Act No. 36 of 1947; considering the magnitude of the amendments DAFF seeks to make, it may have seemed more convenient to simply write a new bill and separate fertilisers as part of its process to rationalise its legislation.
REGULATORY BURDEN
Modern agriculture requires the scientific and precise application of fertilisers to ensure efficiencies in production. However, the environmental risks posed warrant some degree of oversight and regulation. This regulation must be proportionate to the risks involved and the capacity of the regulator to implement oversight effectively. Therein lies the challenge of the proposed legislation.
The new bill introduces an additional regulatory burden. Treating renewals as new registrations increases the cost of doing business and the time taken to receive the necessary documentation.
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Denne historien er fra March 1, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
