Industry-Wide Honeybush Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement

Press Statement 

Industry-Wide Honeybush Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement Signed

18 September 2025

Today marks a historic milestone with the signing of the Industry-Wide Honeybush Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Agreement. This agreement embodies fairness, recognition, and shared prosperity in South Africa’s Honeybush sector. This moment is particularly significant, as I deliver this speech on behalf of a transformed industry association with a new vision—one that is committed to emancipatory transformation and inclusiveness, with a developmental approach as enshrined in our Memorandum of Incorporation.

The South African Honeybush Tea Association is grateful for the opportunity to play a vital role in this process. Our leadership has demonstrated decisive commitment by negotiating an agreement that reflects the collective interests of all parties, and highlights the power of collaboration across stakeholders in line with both national imperatives and international obligations.

We pay tribute to the Khoi and San Councils, who have carried the profound responsibility of protecting the rights and interests of Indigenous communities. Their guardianship has ensured that the voices of the First Peoples are respected and that this agreement safeguards not only financial benefits but also meaningful inclusion within the Honeybush value chain. This is consistent with the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and South Africa’s own National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA).

We also recognise the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for guiding this process and upholding national policy. The Department has carried out its responsibility to ensure that the principles of equity, justice, and sustainability are embedded in how we manage South Africa’s biodiversity, while fostering a framework of cooperation that has made this milestone possible.

This agreement is more than a legal document—it is a moral and legal commitment to fair and equitable benefit sharing. It affirms South Africa’s role in giving effect to its international obligations under the Nagoya Protocol and in advancing constitutional values of dignity, equality, and justice. It reflects the hope that development, industry, and Indigenous knowledge can thrive together, creating dignity, opportunity, and legacy for present and future generations.

With this spirit of partnership, integrity, and respect, we look forward to a sustainable and prosperous Honeybush sector that honours our biodiversity and the people who have safeguarded it for centuries.

Credit: This statement was prepared by Yolande le Roux on behalf of the South African Honeybush Tea Association.

The signing ceremony was attended by The NKSC (National KhoiSan Council on behalf of the Khoi-Khoi peoples, San Council of South Africa, DFFE and SAHTA. Several invited guests including dignitaries including Ambassadors, GIZ, SIPPO and Exhibitors attended a cocktail event that included the signing ceremony.