In Government Gazette No. 46207: Amendments to Control Measures R. 110 of 27 January 1984 with Amended Control Measures R.1998 of 8 April 2022 in terms if the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No.36 of 1983) the macadamia felted coccid (MFC) was added to the list of regulated pests under official control.
The Regulations stipulate the following:
- Nurseries must ensure plants in nurseries are free from the MFC based on visual inspection and tests, and no-one is allowed to move plant material unless free from MFC.
- No one is allowed to move plant material from any land where MFC occurs, is suspected to occur or any quarantine areas (Mpumalanga).
- Nurseries and landowners can apply for permits to be exempted from certain prohibitions/obligations.
- Compulsory notification of new cases outside of affected areas.
- Failure to comply can lead to destruction of plants, plants being sent back to quarantine areas or a person being subject to an offense if above regulations are violated.
Photo courtesy of Dr Coleen Hepburn.
