News Statement by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (Namc)

NEWS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL MARKETING COUNCIL (NAMC)

REQUEST FOR THE CONTINUATION OF STATUTORY MEASURES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MOHAIR INDUSTRY (REGISTRATION AND RECORDS & RETURNS)

The current statutory measures (registration and records & returns) in the mohair industry will lapse on 31 July 2012. Mohair South Africa Ltd, the administrator of the existing statutory measures, applied to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the continuation of these statutory measures for a new period of four years, until 31 July 2016. The statutory measure will relate to mohair which is declared as an agricultural product for the purposes of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, and defined as “the natural fleece of the Angora Goat (Capra angriensis)”.

The purpose and aim of the statutory measure relating to records and returns is to provide a statutory mechanism for the keeping of records and the furnishing of returns to Mohair SA Ltd. This is deemed necessary to ensure that continuous, timeous, and accurate statistics and information relating to the characteristics and the marketing and sale of mohair is made available to all role-players.

The purpose and aim of the statutory measure relating to registration is to provide a statutory mechanism for the development and maintenance of a database of individuals and organisations involved in the mohair industry. Data on individuals involved in the production, trading, processing and exporting of mohair is of necessity and a prerequisite for the accurate and efficient gathering of data for inclusion in a national mohair industry database.

The proposed request for statutory measures in the mohair industry is prima facie consistent with the objectives of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (as set out in section 2 of the Act).

The request is being investigated by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) and recommendations in this regard will be made to the Minister. It is envisaged that explanatory notes regarding the proposed continuation will be published in the Government Gazette of 25 May 2012.

Directly affected groups in the mohair industry are requested to submit any comments (support or objections) regarding the proposed continuation of the statutory measures to the NAMC in writing (fax 012 341 1811 / 012 341 1911 or email to [email protected]) on or before 08 June 2012, to enable the NAMC to formulate its recommendation to the Minister in this regard.

ENQUIRIES: Ndumiso Mazibuko National Agricultural Marketing Council Tel: 012 441 0596 Fax: 012 341 1811 Email: [email protected]