Regulations relating to agricultural remedies published in August 2023 have had a “devastating effect on innovation”.
By Jasper Raats, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
On 25 August 2023, new regulations were published under the Fertilizer, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (Act No. 36 of 1947). They have drastically slowed the registration of new crop-protection products and doubled the cost of regulatory approval, according to Marius Boshoff, MD of Villa Crop Protection and chairperson of CropLife SA.
Speaking at the 2025 Subtrop Marketing Symposium in White River, Boshoff said the amendment – which introduced strict new requirements for certain crop-protection products as well as certification for so-called pest control operators (PCOs) – has had a “devastating effect on innovation”.
“If you start registering a new active ingredient in South Africa today, that product will only reach the market by 2032. That is unacceptable for an industry that relies on new technology to manage pests and combat resistance.”
Also read: Pesticides ‘essential part of farming’
Double the Costs and Limited Capacity
Boshoff says the new legislation has doubled the cost of regulatory trials. Under the revised requirements, a fungicide trial that previously cost R50 000 now costs about R100 000.
He says the phased withdrawal of hazardous substances has already caused major instability. Now, any product classified as “highly hazardous” or “acutely toxic” must be applied by a licensed PCO.
“The problem is that the registrar of Act 36 of 1947 and the department simply do not have the capacity to issue PCO licences, and the whole industry is now caught between legal requirements and practical impossibilities.”
Boshoff says the industry is currently in discussions with the registrar and the ministry to resolve the issue without going to court.
“We are not asking for a looser system; we are asking for one that is workable and practical so that new technology can reach farmers faster.”
Also read: Crop production: How to use pesticides safely
Minister Says There Is Hope
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen acknowledged in his online address to the symposium that the registration process for agricultural remedies is long and frustrating. He announced that the department is in the process of fully digitising the office of the registrar of Act 36 of 1947.
Up to now, applications had to be submitted manually in Pretoria, he said. The new online platform will make it possible to submit applications electronically and track them in real time.
The system will first be rolled out for pesticides and later expanded to include fertilisers, animal feed and other inputs. He believes this will bring greater transparency and shorter waiting periods.
Steenhuisen added that digitalisation will enable the government to exercise better oversight of internal processes and redirect resources more quickly to areas where backlogs occur.
Boshoff has welcomed the government’s engagement on the amendment of Act 36, but warns that unnecessary regulatory hurdles could undermine the country’s competitiveness.
“We are losing access to new active ingredients, while countries such as China and Brazil are registering innovative products much faster.”
Also read: Revolutionary crop protection tech could help farmers feed the world more sustainably
