Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Act 119 of 1990
The Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990) is a core piece of South African legislation that regulates how agricultural products are classified, graded, packed, marked, labelled, sold, imported and exported in the Republic of South Africa.
DEPARTMENT
Department of Health
REGULATION NAME
Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990
NO. AND DATE
Act No. 119 of 1990 — Assented on 13 July 1990; Commenced 1 September 1991.
SUMMARY
The Agricultural Product Standards Act establishes standards and regulatory controls governing the grading, packing, marking, sale, export, import, inspection and quality of agricultural products sold in South Africa. It enables the Minister to make regulations under section 15 that prescribe product classes, compositional rules, labelling requirements, inspection protocols and regulatory fees for specified agricultural products.
REGULATIONS
Classification and Marking of Meat Intended
Defines how fresh meat must be classified, graded, packed and labelled before sale in South Africa. Covers species, carcass standards, origin marking and trade descriptions to ensure consumers receive accurate and trustworthy product information.
Raw Processed Meat Products
Regulates marinated and raw mixed meat products, including ingredient composition, manufacturing criteria, batch identification and country-of-origin labelling to ensure safety and transparency.
Management Control System
Establishes administrative, documentation and compliance systems for the sale and export of regulated agricultural products, including oversight and monitoring mechanisms for exporters.
Processed Meat Products
Sets compositional standards, naming rules and labelling requirements for processed meats such as sausages, patties and canned products. Ensures truthful product representation, hygiene compliance and consumer protection.
Geographical Indications Protection
Protects region-specific agricultural product names and characteristics. Prevents misleading labelling and ensures products marketed with geographic names truly originate from those regions.
NOTICES
Inspection & Sampling Fees
Prescribes statutory inspection and sampling fees for regulated animal products such as poultry and processed meats, outlining payment structures and enforcement charges.
Leave a Reply
- Trending
- Comments
- Latest
Our platform brings together food producers, manufacturers, retailers, hospitality professionals, and everyday consumers who care about quality and compliance.