Act No. 12 of 2023: Agricultural Product Standards Amendment, Act 2023.

This Act consisting of 6 articles aims to enhance the regulation and quality control of agricultural products in South Africa by introducing new definitions, auditing processes, tariff-setting mechanisms, and regulatory oversight by the Minister. More in detail, the Act (i) inserts new word definitions and replaces existing terms to clarify and update terminology used in the agricultural product standards regulations; (ii) provides for auditing of products to assess compliance with management control systems ensuring that activities and outcomes associated with a product meet the specified standards and claims; (iii) allows authorized entities to set tariffs on a cost-recovery basis, with fees calculated to cover incurred costs and implemented only after meeting specific conditions; (iv) empowers the Minister to establish guidelines and requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the Act.