Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, 1996 (Act No. 47 of 1996)

The purpose and aim of this statutory measure are to compensate breeders of soybean varieties for their contribution towards obtaining and utilising improved international agriculture related intellectual property to the benefit of the soybean industry in the Republic of South Africa.

The agricultural sector is expected to ensure food security, strengthen the economy and create job opportunities.  This can be reconciled with the provisions of Section 2(3) of the Act.  In order to achieve these aims and to further the competitive position of the soybean industry in the Republic of South Africa, it is essential to cultivate high yielding crops from seed varieties that are most suited to particular regions in the country.  For the optimisation of possible export earnings, it is imperative for South African commodities to conform to international quality standards, so that South African producers of soybeans can remain competitive in the international markets.  The statutory measure shall be administered by the South African Cultivar and Technology Agency NPC (SACTA).  The levies collected will be administered in a separate account with respect to soybeans and SACTA will be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices.

A portion of the funds collected by means of the levy will be focused on small-scale farmers and transformation in the soybean industry in the Republic of South Africa.  SACTA shall allocate 20% of the levy proceeds to transformation initiatives in the grain industries, by means of service providers of its choice, and report back to the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) annually with regard thereto.