RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/STR/Q1/ZAF/1
8July1996
ORGANIZATION(96-2616)
Original: English Working Party onState Trading Enterprises
REPLIES TOQUESTIONS FROM CANADA1
ONTHE ARTICLE XVII NOTIFICATION OFSOUTH AFRICA2
Thefollowing communication, dated 18June1996, hasbeenreceived from thePermanent
Mission ofSouth Africa.
_______________
Q. Weunderstand thatSouth African trade policy isundergoing change, bothadministratively
andinterms ofpractice. Aregrain conglomerates allowed toimport directly, oristheWheat Board
thesolepurchaser ofimports?
Weunderstand thatSouth Africa isreviewing anew"Marketing ofAgricultural Products Bill"
which mayhaveanimpact onexisting STEs. Hasthislegislation beenbrought intoforce? Ifso,please
describe itsprovisions.
Apparently, South Africa intends toreintroduce statutory agricultural boards which were
previously abolished. Weunderstand thattherelevant legislation (which wepresume tobetheabove-
mentioned"MarketingofAgriculturalProductsBill")providesforthereintroductionofmarketingboards
withfunding fromlevies onagricultural products. Weshould begrateful fordetails.
A. Theliberalization ofSouth Africa 'sagricultural marketing system overthelasttwoyears has
beenextensive andcontinues today. Nevertheless, thefollowing should provide some perspective.
TheMarketing ofAgricultural Products Billwastabled inParliament andpublished atthe
beginning of1996. Currently itisintheprocess ofbeing debated intheParliamentary Portfolio
Committees onAgriculture. Atpresent far-reaching changes totheBillarebeing discussed andit
ispremature toguess theoutcome. Itisforeseen thatthisconsultation process willlastforanumber
ofmonths. Inthemeantime theMarketing Act(59of1968) remains inforce. Although theproposed
newMarketing Billprovides forStatutory Marketing Authorities (similar toboards), broader
representationofalldirectlyaffectedpartiesandgreaterconsensusindecision-makingbysuchauthorities
isproposed.
South Africa intends tosubmit anewfullnotification totheWorking Party onStateTrading
Enterprises soon.
1G/STR/W/13.
2G/STR/N/1/ZAF.