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The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has, during its hybrid plenary this afternoon, passed the Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill and the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill. 

The Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990, by among others providing for auditing of a product for management control systems, and making provisions for the setting of tariffs by assignees on a cost-recovery basis. The Bill also makes provision for the Minister to make regulations pertaining to audit and management control systems.

The Bill seeks to tighten the control systems in areas of labelling claims on products for sale. This will ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information regarding the products that they consume.

Additionally, the Bill is expected to improve quality assurance and advance food safety in South Africa. It will further ensure that all agricultural products sold and exported from South Africa meet certain quality and safety standards, and that the regulatory framework for agricultural production, health, and food safety is strengthened.

The National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill, in turn, seeks to amend the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 by providing for, among others, the establishment of Fire Protection Associations (FPA) by a municipality or a traditional council. It also seeks to amend the title of the Act to the National Veldfire Act. 

The adoption of the Bill means that traditional leaders can facilitate the formation of a Fire Protection Association (FPA) in a bid to better prepare the country for veld fires.

An FPA’s purpose is to predict, prevent, manage and extinguish veld fires. A FPA must apply for registration to the minister and once the minister is satisfied the FPA can perform the duties imposed on it in terms of the act and is representative of the owners of the area, the minister will register the FPA. This will give them the ability to deal with all aspects of veldfire prevention and firefighting in their areas.

The two Bills will now be sent to the President for assent.

Issued by Parliament