Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Act, 2023: Commencement

Posted 22 August 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category New Legislation

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Act, No. 12 of 2023, has officially come into operation following a proclamation by the President in the Government Gazette.

In terms of the Agricultural Product Standards Act, No. 119 of 1990, the amendment Act seeks to address specific deficiencies identified in the principal statute to ensure the effective application of management control. A primary focus of the 2023 Amendment is the rectification of the definition of ‘management control system’, which was previously found to be incorrectly captured regarding inspection, auditing, and production practices.

The new legislation introduces several regulatory adjustments aimed at strengthening the quality control framework for agricultural products. Key changes include:

  • The provision for product auditing specifically for quality control purposes.
  • Clarification of the ‘management control system’ definition to fully encompass all management systems pertaining to inspection and production practices.
  • Enhanced mechanisms for the clear and effective application of management control over agricultural products.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level compliance and advisory for agricultural sector specialists.
  • For your business: Firms providing auditing or compliance services to the agricultural sector must update their quality control frameworks and internal manuals to align with the revised definition of ‘management control systems’.
  • For your clients: Producers, packers, and distributors of agricultural products must prepare for potential product audits as part of the new quality control measures and ensure their management systems meet the clarified statutory definitions.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/agricultural-product-standards-2023-amendment-act-in-force

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