Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature hosts hearing sessions on new Plant Health Bill
The bill aims to provide for phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of regulated pests in the republic and to provide for the control of regulated pests.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, led by its chairperson, Jackie Macie, recently conducted public hearings on the Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill [B14B-2021] in the three districts of Mpumalanga. The first session for the Nkangala District was conducted at the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality’s Marapyane Training Centre on Wednesday April 24.
This was followed by the Ehlanzeni District’s one at the Jeppes Reef Community Hall in the Nkomazi Local Municipality on Friday April 26, and then the Gert Sibande District’s one in the Volksrust Town Hall in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality on Tuesday April 30.
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The bill, presented by Dr Maanda Rambaali of the national Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, aims to provide for phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of regulated pests in the republic, to provide for the control of regulated pests, to provide for regulation of the movement of plants, plant products and other regulated articles into, within and out of the republic, and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Rambaali said the amendments are motivated by the fact that the existing law is not in line with the Constitution and international laws governing plant health. He said the new law will allow the department to easily co-ordinate between provinces and the national department for effective protection of farmers and their crops.

Photos: Supplied/Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
According to the Provincial Legislature, during the sessions, the residents from the three districts made their inputs and raised various challenges pertaining to the bill, including some farmers who produced crops, but could not benefit as these were disqualified and returned by retailers several times, as the crops were infected with diseases.
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A plea was made for the seeds to be produced and bought locally to avoid bringing in diseases or infested seeds from outside the country.
They further pleaded for assistance with fencing and other farming facilities, and also for the bill to not only consider genetically modified crops, but also organic ones. The public also said the bill must not only be on paper, but be implemented, and should make provision for what actions will be taken to deal with plants that are already in the country but not checked for compliance purposes.
The local municipalities in the three districts, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and the community members all accepted the bill and moved for it to be applied.