Document
2024/02/23
Regulatory
BFAP GM Crop Area 2021/2022 Report
2021/22 season GM crop area assessment.
Regulatory
A sound science based and risk proportionate regulatory framework is essential to guarantee the safety, efficacy, and sustainable use of plant biotechnology products while enabling agricultural innovation.
Regulatory Framework
Regulation in South Africa
In South Africa, the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No.15 of 1997) provides regulatory oversight over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) ensuring the rigorous safety assessment of biotech products to minimise potential risks to human health, animal health as well as the environment.
CropLife SA liaises and coordinates with the Regulators and stakeholders in the plant science industry to ensure responsible use of biotech crops and compliance with the provisions of the GMO Act, 1997.
Policy
Policy Issues
CropLife SA advocates for a science based regulatory environment that safeguards human health, animal health and environmental safety while enabling biotech innovation, commercialization and trade. Key policy focus areas centre on modernizing the GMO regulatory framework for improved efficiency.
These advocacy efforts are directed at promoting regulatory harmonization by streamlining the assessment of stacked GM traits and clarifying the regulatory pathway for plant breeding innovations, such as genome editing.
Our Research
Adoption and Planting in South Africa
South Africa has a 25+ year history of successful biotech crop cultivation and ranks amongst the top ten countries globally for the adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops. The latest 2024/2025 planting data indicates that approximately 3.3 million hectares in total were planted for commercial cultivation of GM soybean, maize and cotton. Adoption rates for GM cotton stands at 100%, soybean production at 95% and maize production averages 85%. In line with global adoption trends, biotech crops have mainly included input traits for insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, or both. The integration of biotech crops into SA’s agricultural production has not only given farmers access to better genetics, but also improved yield gains, becoming an important contributor to SA's commercial agricultural system, supporting sustainable food production and food security.
Research & Publications
Regulatory Resources
12 Resources Found — explore key research documents on plant biotechnology in South Africa.
12 Resources Found in 1 Category
Document
2022/09/14
Regulatory
Benefits of Regulatory Harmonisation
Benefits of regulatory harmonisation of GM crops — fact sheet.
Document
2022/01/01
Regulatory
Stacked Trait Products Fact Sheet
Stacked trait products fact sheet.
Document
2022/01/01
Regulatory
Plant Breeding Techniques Infographic
Plant breeding techniques infographic.
Document
2021/11/05
Regulatory
GMO Act, 1997 — Regulatory Overview
A plain-language summary of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No.15 of 1997).
Document
2021/06/22
Regulatory
Genome Editing Regulatory Pathway
Clarifying the regulatory pathway for plant breeding innovations such as genome editing.
Case Study
2021/03/18
Regulatory
Adoption and Planting Trends in South Africa
South Africa's 25+ year history of successful biotech crop cultivation.
Document
2020/10/09
Regulatory
Policy Brief: Modernising the GMO Framework
CropLife SA advocacy priorities for a science-based regulatory environment.
Document
2020/05/27
Regulatory
Stakeholder Guide to GMO Compliance
A guide to stakeholder responsibilities under the GMO Act, 1997.
Infographic
2020/02/11
Regulatory
The GMO Act Compliance Cycle
Visualising the regulation-to-compliance cycle under the GMO Act, 1997.
Document
2019/11/30
Regulatory
Environmental Risk Assessment Guidelines
Guidelines for assessing environmental risk in GMO applications.
Document
2019/08/14
Regulatory
Human & Animal Health Safety Assessment
Safety assessment requirements protecting human and animal health.
| Title | Type | Date | Category | Description | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFAP GM Crop Area 2021/2022 Report | Document | 2024/02/23 | Regulatory | 2021/22 season GM crop area assessment. |
|
| Benefits of Regulatory Harmonisation | Document | 2022/09/14 | Regulatory | Benefits of regulatory harmonisation of GM crops — fact sheet. |
|
| Stacked Trait Products Fact Sheet | Document | 2022/01/01 | Regulatory | Stacked trait products fact sheet. |
|
| Plant Breeding Techniques Infographic | Document | 2022/01/01 | Regulatory | Plant breeding techniques infographic. |
|
| GMO Act, 1997 — Regulatory Overview | Document | 2021/11/05 | Regulatory | A plain-language summary of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No.15 of 1997). |
|
| Genome Editing Regulatory Pathway | Document | 2021/06/22 | Regulatory | Clarifying the regulatory pathway for plant breeding innovations such as genome editing. |
|
| Adoption and Planting Trends in South Africa | Case Study | 2021/03/18 | Regulatory | South Africa's 25+ year history of successful biotech crop cultivation. |
|
| Policy Brief: Modernising the GMO Framework | Document | 2020/10/09 | Regulatory | CropLife SA advocacy priorities for a science-based regulatory environment. |
|
| Stakeholder Guide to GMO Compliance | Document | 2020/05/27 | Regulatory | A guide to stakeholder responsibilities under the GMO Act, 1997. |
|
| The GMO Act Compliance Cycle | Infographic | 2020/02/11 | Regulatory | Visualising the regulation-to-compliance cycle under the GMO Act, 1997. |
|
| Environmental Risk Assessment Guidelines | Document | 2019/11/30 | Regulatory | Guidelines for assessing environmental risk in GMO applications. |
|
| Human & Animal Health Safety Assessment | Document | 2019/08/14 | Regulatory | Safety assessment requirements protecting human and animal health. |
|