A new draft policy for the South African organic sector is now out for consultation. It recommends that South Africa should urgently finalise its organic regulation, which has been in the making for almost ten years. The regulations for the local markets will be based on local conditions and will allow group certification and PGSs.

Organic products produced in South Africa are sold at both local and export markets. Exports are principally sent to Europe and include vegetables, plant products, processed fruit, sugar, wine and Rooibos tea. Grapes are also exported to the United States. Within South Africa, the products are usually sold in supermarkets, as home deliveries, directly from the farmer, through specialised restaurants and through special organic markets. Some schools are also beginning to serve organic foods. There is a robust but underdeveloped, local market for organic produce with limited premiums for organic products.

The organic sector in South Africa is greatly fragmented. There is no single body that represents the interests of the majority of organic farmers. This amounts to such a problem that it is specifically addressed in the proposed policy for the Government of South Africa with suggested actions such as providing support for the establishment of a unified, strong and credible sector body that would be able to represent its interests and the establishment of a consultative platform between government departments and the organic industry.

The policy explicitly recommends both group certification and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and that they are actively supported. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) shall develop the needed regulations and set the standards. ‘The department shall appoint suitable companies as inspection agencies to carry out inspections and certification of products and farms on its behalf for a prescribed period. Inspection services within DAFF shall be responsible for auditing the work of the designated companies.’

The policy proposes that certification of organic products shall be for both local and export markets, and that:

• Development of regulations should be done in close consultation with the organic industry to ensure that the regulation is enabling rather than controlling by nature.
• Regulations for local markets shall be based on local conditions, and not on the conditions in export markets.
• Export market access shall be supported through capacity building and other support to certification agencies.
• The Government shall support the development of domestic certification bodies, by appropriate regulations, capacity building, etc.
• A common national logo for organic products should be established and heavily promoted.

Proposals in other areas include that organic agriculture should be integrated into the curriculum for primary and secondary schools and that a long term agreement shall be implemented by the Government and the private sector.  Farmers should be supported in several ways, such as through training programmes; participatory extension services and special direct incentive schemes (i.e. economic support). The organisation of farmers should also be supported especially in regard to their joint distribution and storage. Public procurement of organic products should be encouraged, including featuring organic food in important public events.

Gunnar Rundgren

Source: National Policy on Organic Farming, 6th Draft