Public hearings on agri produce bill kick off

The bill was approved by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson for gazetting on 5 March and published in the Government Gazette on 28 March.

Departmental Acting Chief Director of Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Steve Galane, said the public hearings in Pretoria will end on Tuesday so as to give stakeholders more time to make their valuable inputs.

Galane said interested parties and the public are invited to submit comments on the bill within 60 days of publication, which is 28 May 2013.

"Comments received after the closing date will not be taken into consideration. Those who are interested in making further oral presentations should indicate that on their submissions.

"Public hearings will take place between now and 28 May 2013 at various venues that will be communicated to the public in due course," he said.

The next public hearings will be held in Paarl, Western Cape on 16 May, followed by other hearings in Tzaneen, Limpopo on 20 May. The last public hearings will held in Durban on 23 May.

The purpose of the Bill is to:

• Provide for the continued existence and name change of the Agricultural Produce Agents Council to Agricultural Produce Marketing Agency;
  
• Provide for the continued existence and name change of the Fresh Produce Agents Fidelity Fund to Agricultural Produce Marketing Agency Fidelity Fund;
  
• Provide for the constitution of the Board of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Agency;
  
• Provide for broader objects and functions of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Agency;
  
• Make certain provisions applicable to all or certain categories of agricultural produce agents, auctioneers, brokers and wholesalers;
  
• Provide for the regulation of the occupations of auctioneers, brokers and wholesalers;
  
• Provide for the regulation of fresh produce markets;
  
• Provide for compulsory training, registration and accreditation of all agricultural produce agents, auctioneers, brokers, wholesalers, sales persons and booking clerks;
  
• Repeal the Agricultural Produce Agents Act, 1992; and Provide for matters connected therewith.

Written comments should be forwarded to the department for the attention of H.M. Mamabolo at the following address:

Sefala Building
Office 710
503 Belvedere Street
Arcadia
Pretoria; or

Private Bag X15
Arcadia
0007

Written comments can also be faxed to +27 (0)12 319 8131 or emailed to az.vog.ffad@MalagoM or az.vog.ffad@MD.AP.