| 1.1 |
A farm on which grapes intended for the production of IP wine are grown shall be managed and operated as a unit, irrespective of the number of properties comprising such farm or the nature of the other farming activities which are practised thereon. |
| 1.2 |
The person in charge of the growing of grapes on the farm shall have thorough knowledge of the principles involved in integrated production. |
| 1.3 |
The Authority may require that a person referred to in paragraph 1.2 attend a training course in connection with the application of integrated production which has been approved by the Authority and which includes training in integrated pest control. |
| 1.4 |
Agricultural production on the farm shall be in harmony with the environment, and the natural agricultural resources on the farm shall therefore be utilised in a manner which— |
| 1.4.1 |
will ensure the maintenance of the sustained production potential of the land; |
| 1.4.2 |
will counteract erosion of the soil through the action of water, wind or other agents, and will promote the conservation of soil which is subject to such erosion; |
| 1.4.3 |
will prevent the weakening or destruction of the water sources; and |
| 1.4.4 |
where applicable, will promote the protection of natural vegetation and the combating of weeds and invader plants. |
| 2.1 |
Natural vegetation may only be removed from a piece of land intended for the establishing of vines after an environmental impact study has shown that it will not be to the detriment of the natural agricultural resources. |
| 2.2 |
A thorough terrain and soil profile study of a piece of land intended for the establishing of vines must be undertaken beforehand, irrespective of whether vines were previously established thereon, with a view to determine the soil preparation and fertilization requirements of that piece of land for the purpose of the utilisation thereof for viticulture. |
| 2.3 |
The soil preparation actions on such a piece of land shall— |
| 2.3.1 |
be based on the findings of the soil profile study referred to in paragraph 2.2; and |
| 2.3.2 |
be of such a nature and extent that it will not cause secondary problems such as soil erosion, weakened drainage or the ploughing up of chemically or physically undesirable layers of soil. |
| 2.4 |
The chemical correction of macro and micro elements during soil preparation shall— |
| 2.4.1 |
be done on the basis of the results of the analysis of representative samples of the topsoil and subsoil which were taken during the soil profile study referred to in paragraph 2.2; and |
| 2.4.2 |
be in accordance with the required level of production of the vines to be established on the piece of land concerned. |
| 2.5 |
Tractor and implement traffic on prepared land prior to the establishing of vines shall be restricted to the essential. |
| 2.6 |
The ridging of soil may only be, undertaken if it is not possible to obtain optimum soil depth for the establishing of vines by means of conventional soil preparation methods. |
| 3. |
Choice of grape cultivars |
| 3.1 |
A terrain study referred to in paragraph 2.2 shall include an investigation into the prevailing climatic and ecological circumstances of the piece of land concerned and the expected influence thereof on factors such as growth vigour, delayed budding, disease pressure and time of ripening of the vine cultivars which are considered for establishing thereon. |
| 3.2 |
The choice of scion and rootstock cultivars to be established on the piece of land concerned shall be restricted to those which, on the basis of the findings of such terrain study, are by virtue of their disease resistance and adaptability to the climatic and ecological circumstances concerned, best suited so as to ensure optimal growth and an economical yield of quality grapes with minimum human interference on the piece of land concerned. |
| 3.3 |
Only the best available plant material shall be used for the establishing of vines on such piece of land, and preference shall be given to plant material which is certified in terms of a scheme established under the Plant Improvement Act, 1976. |
| 4.1 |
The row direction, planting density and trellising system which are used on a piece of land shall be of such a nature that it will not contribute towards the erosion of the soil, and will create a micro-climate which will be conducive for optimal plant development, air movement and exposure to sunlight, and will reduce the incidence of diseases. |
| 5.1 |
In order to prevent the undoing of the favourable conditions created in a vineyard by means of correct soil preparation and vineyard lay-out— |
| 5.1.1 |
tractor and implement traffic in the vineyard shall be restricted to the essential; |
| 5.1.2 |
mechanical cultivation of the ridges shall be done judiciously and be restricted to the minimum; and |
| 5.1.3 |
mechanical cultivation between rows shall be restricted to the establishing of cover crops and the combating of weeds in combination with suitable herbicides. |
| 6.1 |
The chemical control of weeds which occur in a vineyard— |
| 6.1.1 |
shall be restricted to the essential; and |
| 6.1.2 |
may only be applied by means of herbicides which are registered for use on the weeds concerned in vineyards. |
| 6.2 |
When the use of a herbicide for the control of weeds in a vineyard is unavoidable, it must be administered strictly in accordance with the directions for use indicated on the package thereof: Provided that the use of pre-sprouting herbicides in a vineyard shall as far as possible be avoided. |
| 6.3 |
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 the Authority may, when determining requirements and conditions for the registration of a farm in terms of this Scheme, prohibit or restrict the use of a particular herbicide or herbicides which are not reconcilable with integrated production, on farms where grapes intended for the production of IP wine are grown. |
| 7.1 |
Balanced fertilization shall be applied in a vineyard in order to provide the nutrients which are required to ensure optimal growth, yield and grape quality: Provided that— |
| 7.1.1 |
the level of fertilization shall not be of such a nature that it will contribute towards the pollution of the water sources through leaching, or that it will lead to excessive growth or foliar density which could favour the incidence of diseases or impair penetration of crop protection remedies during spraying; |
| 7.1.2 |
the results of soil or leaf samples analyses which are taken in the vineyard shall be used as basis to determine the required level of fertilization; |
| 7.1.3 |
such soil of leaf samples should in the case of sandy soils, be taken at least every three years, and in the case of heavy soils, be taken at least every five years; |
| 7.1.4 |
phosphorus and potassium fertilization shall only be applied if the analysis results of soil samples and, in the case of potassium fertilization, the yield of the vines, has indicated the necessity therefor; |
| 7.1.5 |
potassium fertilization on brackish soil shall not be applied in the form of potassium chloride; |
| 7.1.6 |
the maintenance of the pH level of the soil after the initial application of lime during soil preparation as contemplated in paragraph 2 shall be done on the basis of the analysis results of soil samples; and |
| 7.1.7 |
nitrogen fertilization shall be applied on the basis of the potential nitrogen yield of the soil and the growth vigour of the vines, and shall in the case of sandy soils he applied in portions and in accordance with the seasonable requirements of the vines. |
| 7.2 |
Organic fertilization in the form of manure or compost shall not contain any unprocessed sewerage waste. |
| 7.3 |
The quantity of organic fertilization applied to a vineyard shall not exceed the nitrogen requirements of the vines. |
| 7.4 |
Foliar feeding may only be used where it is not possible to provide in the nutrient requirements of the vines by means of normal soil applications. |
| 7.5 |
Fertilization of a vineyard by means of an irrigation system which is installed there may only be done if the system is designed for this purpose, and it will not result in the application of more nutrients than would by means of normal soil applications provide in the nutrient requirements of the vines. |
| 8.1 |
The irrigation system which is used in a vineyard shall be of such a nature that— |
| 8.1.1 |
it will ensure the efficient distribution of water in the soil type concerned without causing waterlogging, salination, the compaction of the surface layer of the soil or other environmental problems; |
| 8.1.2 |
susceptibility for diseases will not be enhanced by means of regular drenching of the grape bunches or the creation of an excessively humid micro-climate; and |
| 8.1.3 |
the quality of the grapes will not be detrimentally affected by regular wetting of the vines. |
| 8.2 |
Irrigation scheduling shall be done in accordance with the water retention ability of the soil and the physiological stage of development and water consumption of the vines, and be based on measurements by means of evaporation pans, tensiometers or neutron moisture meters, or on observations of growth factors. |
| 8.3 |
An irrigation system shall at all times be utilised in accordance with the specifications thereof, and be maintained in a manner which will ensure the efficient operation thereof. |
| 9. |
Vine development and trellising |
| 9.1 |
Vines shall be developed in such a manner that sufficient, wen-spaced shoots win be available to ensure the desired foliar density, yield, air movement, exposure to sunlight and efficient application of crop protection remedies. |
| 9.2 |
The trellising system in a vineyard shall be sufficient to accommodate the growth vigour of the vines, ensure a good distribution of shoots, leaves and bunches and avoid a too dense canopy. |
| 9.3 |
Pruning wounds on arms and trunks shall be covered with a suitable wound sealer in order to prevent wood rot. |
| 10.1 |
The chemical stimulation of physiological processes in the vine to produce better quality bunches— |
| 10.1.1 |
shall be restricted to the essential; and |
| 10.1.2 |
may only be applied by means of growth stimulants which are registered for use on vines. |
| 10.2 |
When the use of a growth stimulant in a vineyard is unavoidable, it must be administered strictly in accordance with the directions for use indicated on the package thereof. |
| 10.3 |
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 10.1 and 10.2, the Authority may, when determining requirements and conditions for the registration of a farm in terms of this Scheme, prohibit or restrict the use of a particular growth stimulant or stimulants which are not reconcilable with integrated production, on farms where grapes intended for the production of IP wine are grown. |
| 11. |
Integrated pest management |
| 11.1 |
The chemical control of pests and diseases which occur in a vineyard— |
| 11.1.1 |
shall be restricted to the essential; |
| 11.1.2 |
may only be applied by means of agricultural remedies which are registered for use against the pests and diseases concerned in vineyards; and |
| 11.1.3 |
shall at all times be applied in conjunction with management practices and measures aimed to minimise or eliminate the use of such agricultural remedies, and to grow grapes in harmony with the environment. |
| 11.2 |
If the regular and comprehensive monitoring of such pests and diseases and the natural predators thereof proves that intervention in nature by means of chemical control is unavoidable— |
| 11.2.1 |
the effect of the appropriate agricultural remedy on other pests and diseases, and on the natural predators of the pests and diseases which occur in the vineyard, shall be determined beforehand in order to ensure that the application thereof will not enhance the occurrence of such other pests and diseases nor cause the extermination of such natural predators; and |
| 11.2.2 |
the appropriate agricultural remedy must be administered strictly in accordance with the directions for use indicated on the package thereof. |
| 11.3 |
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 11.1 and 11.2, the Authority may, when determining requirements and conditions for the registration of a farm in terms of this Scheme— |
| 11.3.1 |
specify the methods to be used in connection with the monitoring and control of specified pests and diseases in vineyards; and |
| 11.3.2 |
prohibit or restrict the use of a particular agricultural remedy or remedies which are not reconcilable with the principles of integrated production, on farms where grapes intended for the production of IP wine are grown. |
| 12. |
Handling of harmful chemicals |
12.1 Harmful chemicals must—
12.1.1 be handled strictly according to the prescriptions on the packaging;
12.1.2 be stored and locked up in a separate store; and
12.1.3 be kept on record, including records of supplies, usage and disposal thereof.
| 12.2 |
Handlers of harmful chemicals must— |
| 12.2.1 |
receive thorough training in the handling thereof; |
| 12.2.2 |
undergo medical examinations annually; and |
| 12.2.3 |
use prescribed protective clothing during the handling and application thereof. |
| 12.3 |
Excess mixed harmful chemicals may not end up in rivers trenches, or storage dams or pollute the environment in any other way. |
| 12.4 |
Empty containers or unused harmful chemicals must be disposed of in such a way that it can not be harmful to people or pollute the environment in any way. |
| 12.5 |
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 the Authority may, when determining requirements and conditions for the registration of a farm in terms of this Scheme, lay down further and more restrictive prescriptions regarding the handling of harmful chemicals. |
Implementation of Geneva Conventions Act, 2012
