DALRRD is the South African government department responsible for agricultural policy, food safety regulation, and export certification. The department’s Directorate of Plant Health and Phytosanitary Services manages export requirements for agricultural products.

Cold Chain Relevance: DALRRD is the regulatory gatekeeper for agricultural cold chain exports—South Africa’s citrus, deciduous fruit, table grapes, and other fresh produce exports depend on departmental certification. The Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), operating under DALRRD mandate, inspects and certifies cold chain compliance for all agricultural exports. For cold chain operators serving the export market, DALRRD requirements define temperature protocols for specific commodities, cold treatment specifications for pest control (critical for citrus exports to certain markets), and documentation standards for phytosanitary compliance. The department’s import controls also govern cold chain requirements for agricultural products entering South Africa. Understanding DALRRD requirements is essential for any operator handling fresh produce, as non-compliance results in rejected shipments and market access restrictions. The department publishes commodity-specific cold chain guidelines and updates protocols based on trading partner requirements.