The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) on 15 January 2016 published the Draft Perishable Products Export Control Bill, 2015 for public comment, which is due on 14 February 2016.
Some of the key amendments to the Bill include the: (i) Promotion of an orderly, efficient and sustainable cold chain for the export of perishable products from the Republic; (ii) Provision for the legal framework for the regulation and monitoring of the cold chain; (iii) Introduction of a cold chain information system and data base; (iv) Promotion of broad based black economic empowerment by black farmers, rural communities and exporters; and (v) Monitoring, evaluation, assessment and reporting on the cold chain.