Compliance checklist for South African agricultural and agri-processing operations

A farm or agri-processor that can produce PPECB registration and current export certificates, a valid water use authorisation for every listed use on the property, an up-to-date occupier register with ESTA-compliant notice records, and current Act 36 registration certificates for the agricultural remedies, fertilisers and stock feeds it uses, covers the core of what a regulator or buyer audit will ask for.

Reviewed by TefCo Compliance Research — last verified 15 September 2026.

In short

Export documentation should be kept per consignment, not just as a general PPECB registration certificate.
Every listed water use on the property needs its own authorisation record, not a single blanket licence assumption.
ESTA compliance is about the occupier file — consent, notice and consultation records — not only the eviction process.
Pesticides, fertilisers, farm feeds and stock remedies used or sold must be registered under Act 36 of 1947.

Export and product standards file

PPECB registration as an exporter, agent, or cold chain service provider.
Current export certificates for each regulated product line, issued under the Agricultural Product Standards Act 119 of 1990.
Records of export information furnished at booking and at stuffing, per the Board's export regulations.
Maximum residue limit (MRL) test results for regulated products, where applicable to the destination market.
Packaging, marking and labelling records consistent with the applicable product standard.

Water use file

A water use authorisation (licence, general authorisation, or registered existing lawful use) for each listed use under section 21 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.
Proof of any conditions attached to the authorisation (monitoring, metering, discharge limits) being met.
Records of any pending water use licence applications and their current status with the Regional Office or Catchment Management Agency.

Farm worker and occupier file (ESTA)

A current register of occupiers with consent to reside on the land under the Extension of Security of Tenure Act 62 of 1997.
Records of consent given, and of any notices of termination of the right of residence, with the just cause and process followed.
Records of consultation with occupiers and any relevant municipality before termination proceedings, where required by the Act.

An eviction application without a documented, lawful termination of the right of residence beforehand is one of the most common defects raised in Land Claims Court proceedings under ESTA.

Agricultural inputs registration (Act 36 of 1947)

Registration certificates for pesticides, fertilisers, farm feeds and stock remedies used or sold, under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act 36 of 1947.
Proof of any pending Act 36 applications and their current status, given the department's own acknowledged processing backlog.

Frequently asked

Is a general PPECB registration enough to export any perishable product?

Registration is the starting point, but export certification is assessed per consignment and per product under the Agricultural Product Standards Act 119 of 1990 — keep certificates on file per shipment, not just the registration certificate.

Do farm dams need a separate water use authorisation from irrigation?

Yes. Storing water and taking water from a resource are listed separately under section 21 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998, so a dam and the irrigation abstraction feeding it can each need their own authorisation.

Sources

TefCo Corporate Compliance (Pty) Ltd is a compliance management platform, not a legal, tax or advisory firm. This guide is general information, not advice. Fees, dates and thresholds change — confirm current figures with the regulator before you rely on them.