The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries informed of the receipt of a request from the Pomegranate Association of South Africa (POMASA) on 16 March 2015, for the implementation of statutory measures in the pomegranate industry for four years effective from January 2016.
POMASA requested the introduction and promulgation of the following statutory measures in the pomegranate industry: (i) Section 15 of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (MAP): Levies; (ii) Section 18 of the MAP Act: Records and returns; and (iii) Section 19 of the MAP Act: Registration.
POMASA indicated that the proposed statutory levy woud finance the following functions, namely research and technology development & technology transfer; Information and statistics; quality standards; communication, consumer education and market development; and transformation and training.
The proposed statutory measures relating to records and returns to be submitted to POMASA is necessary to ensure continuous, timeous and accurate market information. The proposed statutory measures relating to registration of the relevant role players with POMASA is necessary to assist the administrator to ensure that continuous, timeous and accurate market information relating to the pomegranate industry is available to all role players.
Currently POMASA members contribute a once-off joining fee of R500 and an annual membership fee of R500. When the statutory measures are implemented, these fees would no longer be applicable. POMASA indicated that it is a growing industry and needs sustainable funding over the medium term to finance important activities e.g. research and technology development.
Comment is due by 16 May 2015.
