There is mounting international pressure to impose more stringent and comprehensive regulation of herbicides and pesticides. South Africa is a signatory to several international conventions, including the Rotterdam Convention on the safe trade of hazardous chemicals, the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants, and the Basel Convention regulating the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste.

In September 2023, the United Nations adopted the voluntary Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), which  sets out five strategic objectives and 28 targets to guide the management of chemicals and waste across their lifecycle. It represents a global commitment to prevent or minimise harm from chemicals and waste to human health and the environment.

Global framework on chemicals

The five objectives of the GFC are:

•   Establishment of legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and capacities.

•   Generation,  availability, and accessibility of comprehensive and sufficient knowledge, data, and information.

•   Identifying, prioritising, and addressing key issues of concern.

•   Encouraging the adoption of safer and more sustainable alternatives across product value chains, and promoting responsible chemical management in sectors such as industry, agriculture, and healthcare, with improved transparency and access to information on chemical risks.

•   Enhancing implementation through improved resource mobilisation, partnerships, cooperation, and capacity building.

The main implications for the agricultural sector are:

•   Agrochemical lifecycle management: Safe production, use, and disposal of agricultural chemicals.

•   Targets on hazardous pesticides:

pesticides (HHPs) and promoting safer alternatives.

•   Capacity building for producers: Developing countries can benefit from the GFC Fund, which supports training, technology transfer, and safer chemical management in agriculture.

•   Waste and pollution reduction: Minimising agricultural waste and recycling or safe disposal systems.

•   Integration with food safety: Harmonisation of maximum residue limits (MRLs), ensuring agricultural exports meet global safety requirements.

Implementation in South Africa The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is leading the development of South Africa’s implementation plan for the GFC. On 20 March 2026, the department held an engagement session with affected sectors, during which it presented a draft National Implementation Plan.

Some of the important proposals regarding the agricultural sector include:

•   Phasing-out of HHPs due to their potential impacts on the health of agricultural workers, communities,  and on food safety and ecosystems.

•   Promotion of integrated pest management (IPM) as a safer alternative.

•   Regulatory review and alignment with international standards to ensure pesticides used in South Africa meet global safety criteria.

•   Safer alternatives and green chemistry.

•   Progressive substitution of high-risk substances.

•   Toxic metals such as lead and cadmium are priority risks, given their potential to contaminate soils, crops, and food chains.

•   Stricter controls on, for instance, fertilisers, paints, and industrial processes that can affect agricultural land.

•   Alignment with multilateral agreements (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions) to ensure compliance in agricultural trade.

•   Preventing illegal trade in pesticides and hazardous substances.

Existing regulatory regime

South Africa already has a comprehensive regulatory framework supporting sustainable and responsible food production. Agricultural crop protection is highly regulated, with strict requirements for labelling, application standards, MRLs, and record keeping. The primary legislation governing agricultural remedies is the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947), supported by detailed regulations.

Labour and environmental safeguards are similarly robust.  South Africa has adopted numerous International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, while worker safety is regulated under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act 85 of 1993) and the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents. Environmental oversight is largely provided by the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998), ensuring  that pesticide use aligns with environmental protection and sustainability practices.

The way forward Stakeholders will be given the opportunity to engage on the draft National Implementation Plan. The National Department of Agriculture has also indicated its intention to revise the regulatory framework  (Act 36), and stakeholders will be allowed to engage with the department on a new legislative framework. Agbiz will participate in these consultative processes.

By Annelize Crosby, head of legal intelligence, Agbiz