Pretoria, South Africa
July 12, 2012

USDA/FAS GAIN report

Report highlights:

The production area of biotech crops in South Africa continued to expand in 2011 to reach 2.3 million hectares, making South Africa the ninth largest producer of biotech crops in the world. South Africa‟s new Consumer Protection Bill came into effect on April 1, 2011. The new act requires virtually every product label in South Africa„s food and beverage industry to be changed to comply with mandatory GMO labeling requirements. The intent of the law is to prevent exploitation or harm of consumers and to promote the social well-being of consumers. In recent events, Business Unity South Africa organized a meeting with the Commissioner of the Consumer Protection Act on 29 May 2012, to discuss the current challenges pertaining to the regulations of the Act, including GM labeling. The Commissioner acknowledged the inherent challenges pertaining to definitions and interpretations of the existing GM regulations. As a result, the Commissioner has been collaborating with the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Trade and Industry and Science and Technology in an effort to develop more sensible guidelines on GM labeling. The publication of the draft GM labeling guidelines is envisaged by the end of July 2012.

Sections I, II, III and V were updated.

Full report