Pretoria: The Department of Agriculture has moved to correct what it describes as 'misleading' public claims made by an agriculture lobby group regarding the status of applications submitted under the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947).
According to South African Government News Agency, the department disputes the narrative suggesting a 'persistent collapse' of the system, stressing that significant progress had been made to modernise and streamline the regulatory environment. 'Upon assuming office, the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, indicated that the backlogs and inefficiencies around the process would receive attention,' the department said.
The department reported that 6,617 applications have been processed and finalised in the 2024/25 financial year alone. Over the past five years, a total of 51,165 applications-out of 56,890 received-have been finalised. Turnaround times vary from two weeks to 24 months, depending on the application type.
Efforts to improve efficiency include implementing key recommendations from the 2011 Ministerial Task Team Report, notably the development of a modern, online system to replace manual submissions. The first phase of this system, for pesticide applications, was launched in December 2023, allowing electronic submissions, real-time tracking, and public access to registered pesticide lists.
Minister Steenhuisen highlighted that this digital system will enhance workflow and better serve stakeholders by eliminating unnecessary delays and creating a 'fast track' for compliant companies. The automation of the Agricultural Inputs Control System aims to improve service delivery and ensure quick processing of compliant applications while identifying non-compliant ones upfront.
From 1 April 2026, manual applications for pesticides will no longer be accepted, with plans to extend the digital system to other agricultural inputs. The department has also increased internal capacity by appointing consultants to assist with application reviews and backlog reduction.
The current backlog across four main categories is 5,730 applications, with the largest portion, 4,815, awaiting technical evaluation. The Agricultural Remedies category has the most significant backlog at 2,390 applications, followed by Animal Feeds, Stock Remedies, and Fertiliser categories.
Challenges contributing to delays include increasing industry demand, incomplete registrations, the need for concurrence from other departments, and long response times from applicants, noted the department.
In a related update, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has dismissed rumours of a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) vaccine shortage, confirming adequate stock. Since the RVF outbreak, OBP has distributed 465,200 live doses and 118,050 inactivated doses, with 2.4 million live doses currently in stock. Future production plans include 2.6 million live doses and 375,000 inactive doses in December 2025, with nine million doses projected between January and March 2026.