Negotiating Mandates on B24-98; National Marketing Council on Wheat, Wool & Cotton Mandates on Levies

LAND, AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE 24 March 1998
NEGOTIATING MANDATES ON B24-98; NATIONAL MARKETING COUNCIL ON WHEAT, WOOL AND COTTON MANDATES ON LEVIES

PROVINCES PRESENT:
Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu - Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Northern Province, North West.

PROVINCE(S) ABSENT:
Western Cape.

APOLOGIES: None.

DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES: Ms. Naidoo; Mr. Van Rensburg

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS AMENDMENT BILL,
MANDATES ON B 24 - 98.

Department representative, Ms. Naidoo, gave a brief summary of what was mentioned on the Amendment Bill at the previous meeting. Ms.Naidoo added , that the Amendment Bill did in no way affect the content of the principle Bill. However, provisions were made for consequential decisions. This means that decisions could now be made by an executive office and appeals to the Director-General. This amendment does however make the Appeals Board redundant.

In answer to a query concerning from where would the new employees be employed and would this be from the Department, Ms. Naidoo said that certain powers would assign these new positions and they would not come from the department.

EASTERN CAPE: Found nothing controversial in the Bill. They are unsure if South African products are defined in the Amendment Bill.Nevertheless, the province approves the Bill.
NORTHERN CAPE: Did not receive Mandate(s), therefor unable to make decision.
GUATENG: No proper consultation of the Bill, however province approves Bill.
NORTH WEST: Did not receive Mandate(s), therefor unable to make a decision.
NORTHERN PROVINCE: Did not receive Mandate(s), however does approve Bill.
MPUMALANGA: Representative was not at provincial meeting, unable to make decision.
FREE STATE: Approves Bill, but has reservations about Mandate(s).
KWAZULU-NATAL: No objections to Bill, but has reservations on Mandate(s).

In answer to the question of South African products complying with international standards, Mr.Van.Rensburg said South African products are of a high standard and do comply with those standards and trade agreements. The Amendment regulations conform to international standards as South Africa is striving towards the highest standards.

A question was asked on the availability of Mandate(s) to the provinces. The Department answered by assuring the provinces that this problem will be eliminated.

The Free State proposed a motion to pass/adopt Bill, so as to end the prolonged proceedings.

VOTE TO ADOPT BILL:
Eastern Province: Yes
Free State: Yes
Gauteng:Yes
Kwazulu-Natal:(could be happier) Yes
Mpumalanga:(no mandate) Yes
Northern Cape: Yes
North West:(no mandate)
Northern Province: Yes

Majority of provinces approved the adoption of the Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill.

MANDATE(S) ON NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL MARKETING COUNCIL ON WHEAT, WOOL, COTTON.

EASTERN CAPE: Accepts Mandate(s)
FREE STATE: Unable to reach decision.
NORTHERN CAPE: Anticipates no problems with cotton and sorghum issue, it does
however feels that they will encounter problems with wool.
NORTH WEST: Awaiting Mandates.
NORTHERN PROVINCE: Awaiting Mandates.
MPUMALANGA: Awaiting Mandates.

Free State urged that the provinces should obtain Mandates if decisions need to be made.
Guateng added by saying that the Mandates must be clarified within 30-days of promulgation, so as to avoid provinces not making the necessary decisions that have to reached, when the time comes.
KwaZulu-Natal: When making decisions on agricultural affairs, the focus should be on those provinces most affected. Public hearings should be done and then the decisions we make must be influenced by those hearings.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
Provinces not present at meetings delay proceedings. Their absence should be brought to
the attention of an Official. Issues that are raised during meetings should not be rushed through, especially for those provinces that will be affected by the decision made.

DATE OR NEXT MEETING: 30 March 1998.