PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ACT: DRAFT REGULATIONS OUT FOR COMMENT

PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ACT: DRAFT REGULATIONS OUT FOR COMMENT

• 27 March 2026
• Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development
• SA Legal Academy

The Department of Agriculture has gazetted draft regulations under the yet-to-be-commenced 2024 Preservation & Development of Agricultural Land Act – calling for input by 26 May 2026.

This is noting that the Act’s overarching objective is to ensure that viable agricultural land is available and actively used to its optimal potential to support long-term food production through sustainable farming practice.

With that in mind – underpinned by a commitment to ‘efficient administration and fair decision making’ – among other things the draft regulations cover:

• the criteria to be met by provincial governments when developing agricultural sector plans
• the requirements to be met and procedures followed when applying for agro-ecosystem authorisations, including associated timeframes
• functions to be performed by agricultural and related professionals during the agro- ecosystem application authorisation process
• activities that may be commenced without an agro-ecosystem authorisation
• compliance monitoring
• compliance inspection, including:
  • the use of technology
  • the appointment of an external specialist
  • reporting requirements, and
  • contravention notices and related procedures, and
• the appeals process and related procedures.

Provision is also made for the development of:

• compliance-related norms and standards, and
• a national agro-eco information system.

Please click the links below for more information:

• draft regulations  
• Act

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